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THE MAHDl 

OR, LOVE AND RACE 

^ Drama in Qtorg 


BY 


HALL CAINE 

AUTHOR OF 

THE MANXMAN, THE DEEMSTER, CAPt’n DAVY’S HONEYMOON, 

THE SCAPEGOAT, ETC. 


* 

Love is strong, but race is stronger. It 
was a Jewish woman who destroyed 
the Captain of the Assj^rians, and smote 
oS his head with his own fauchion. 



' lx ^ ^ 

NEW YORK / 

/ / 

D. APPLETON AND COMPANY 

1894 


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THE MAHDI 

OR, LOVE AND RACE 

< • 

% ?Ilrama in Storg 


BY 

HALL 'CAINE 

AUTHOR OF 

THE MANXMAN, THE DEEMSTER, CAPT’N DAVYDS HONEYMOON, 
THE SCAPEGOAT, ETC. 


s 



Love is strong, but race is stronger. It 
was a Jewish woman who destroyed 
the Captain of the Assyrians, and smote 
off his head with his own fauchion. 






Cr uyv- 


V 


‘iT 


\ 0F(, 






NEW 

D. APPLETON 


YORK 

AND COMPANY 


1894 



Copyright, 1894, 
By hall CAINE. 


The present attitude of the Great Powers of Europe 
towards Morocco, the Sultan of Morocco, and the Moors, 
is, perhaps, one of the most pitiful illustrations of the 
story of the dog in the manger. While Spain, France, 
and (it must be confessed) England also stand at guard 
over a country which all desire and none can suffer an- 
other to possess, the most wicked indifference is shown 
towards the efforts of the people themselves to be mas- 
ters in their own land. More than one Moorish hero 
lies in the prisons of Marrakesh, enduring miseries un- 
imagined even in the “dead houses” of Siberia. But, 
if right is right, Morocco is for the Moors, and not for 
Spaniards or Frenchmen or Englishmen. To describe 
the efforts of an oppressed people seeking to be free, and 
to show that men like Hamam, the betrayed chief of the 
Anjerah rising, are not brutal savages outside our sym- 
pathy, but enlightened leaders struggling to shake off 
a cruel yoke, this short tale, “The Mahdi,” has been 
written, as a romance and perhaps also as a prophecy. 

5 


GLOSSARY OF MOORISH WORDS. 


Mahdi — leader. 

Mooddin {Miiezzin) — one 
who calls to prayer from 
the minaret of the 
mosque. 

Kasbah — a castle. 

Kaid — a chief. 

Basha — a governor. 

Kaleefa — a lieutenant. 

Sok — market-place. 

Selldb — a male outer gar- 
ment. 

Jidi — a title of courtesy 
equal to “ My Lord.” 


Kaftan — a coat. 

SoolJiam or selham — a 
cloak. 

Moozoonah — a Moorish 
coin of small value. 

Reefian — native of the Reef 
Mountains. 

Berber — a tribe in Mo- 
rocco. 

Kadi — a judge. 

Adool — a notary. 

Umana — revenue officer. 

Tarboosh — the cap mis- 
called the fez. 


6 


THE MAHDI. 


FIRST PART. 


I. 

Isaac Laeedo was a Jew of Fez, but 
he did not live in the Jewish quarter. 
He had been born in the Mellah, and 
up to twenty years of age he had been 
compelled to take off his slippers and 
walk barefoot in the streets as often 
as he went by the mosques of the 
Muslims. But at forty he had bought 
up the largest house in the market- 
place, and was holding the proudest of 
the Moors in the palm of his hand. At 
sixty he was the richest man in the city, 
and was living under the “ protection ” 
of the Minister for France. 

His worldly success had brought its 


orije 


spiritual penalties. He had passed out 
of communion with his own people. 
His brethren distrusted him and de- 
spised him, and he repaid them hate for 
hate and scorn for scorn. The ostracism 
of the Jews made his way the easier 
mth the Moors. They never forgot 
that he was an Israelite ; but the worst 
barriers were broken down. It was 
known that the best of them frequented 
his house without compunction, and 
walked with him in the streets without 
shame. 

Nevertheless, as he grew old, the Jew 
in his heart grew strong. He began to 
think tenderly of his poor, despised, 
persecuted people, of the old faith of 
his fathers, and of the graves of his 
parents. Sometimes he thought he 
would go back to them after all. Oc- 
casionally he told himself that it might 
have been better if he had begged his 
bread from door to door. 

His wife had died early, but he had a 




3 


daughter, who had lived all her life 
among the Muslims. She knew noth- 
ing of the synagogue, nothing of the 
Thorah, and nothing of the Mellah, save 
what she saw of it from the housetops 
and over the walls. Her servants were 
negroes ; her friends were the friends of 
her father ; she had no companions and 
no intimates. But she was rich and she 
was beautiful, and rumour told of cer- 
tain Moorish gentlemen who were trying 
to forget that she was a Jew. One of 
these was young Omar Benani, the hare- 
brained son of a former Basha. An- 
other was a very different type of man, 
Mohammed Abd er Bahman, a student, 
a devotee, a reformer, but also one of 
Isaac Laredo’s many partners in his 
many businesses. 


4 


I 


n. 

It was late in the year and late in the 
day, and Isaac was in his room at home 
casting up accounts in his private ledg- 
er. He was seated on a low stool by a 
stove ; the well-thumbed book was 
rested on his knee, and his daughter 
stood behind sorting papers in a bureau. 
A warm shaft from the setting sun 
came through the open archway of the 
Moorish chamber, and fell on the beard- 
ed old man in his skull-cap and on the 
slim girl with jet-black ringlets. 

“ Pah ! these Moorish spendthrifts, 
they’ll ruin me,” said Isaac. “Here’s 
that Omar Benani, now. . . . The pi- 
geon-hole to the left, Eachel — look for 
his paper.” 

Eachel took a paper from the bureau, 
glanced at the endorsement, and read : 
“ Benani — Omar.” 

“ That’s it ; read it, Eachel, read 


it.’ 


9[l)e 


5 


The girl opened the document and 
read aloud : 

On or before June 1st I, Omar Benani, here- 
by undertake and covenant, in consideration of 
value this day received, to deliver to Isaac Lare- 
do, city of Fez, dominion of His Shereifian 
Majesty, ten tons of almonds of the value of ten 
dollars per hundredweight 

The girl paused and looked up. 
“ Almonds, father ? Is Omar Benani a 
merchant ? ” 

Omar Benani is an officer of revenue 
to the Sultan,” said Isaac, lifting his 
head from the ledger. 

Then why the almonds ? ” said 
Rachel. 

Tut ! You are a child and know 
nothing. No Jew in Morocco may re- 
cover money lent in usury, and so, you 

gee ” But the old man’s head was 

back in the book. Ten tons, you say ? 
At ten dollars a hundredweight — two 
thousand dollars. That’s Omar Benani’s 


6 




I O U. . . . June 1st — did you say 
June?” 

June,” said the girl. 

And this is November.” 

The old man counted on his fingers 
over the edge of the ledger. July — 
August — September — October — No- 
vember. The money is five months over- 
due. Anything there about interest ? ” 

Rachel looked at the paper again and 
v^ent on reading : 

And failing to deliver the said almonds on or 
before the date named, I, the said Omar Benani, 
do hold myself liable to the said Isaac Laredo 
for a further ton of almonds in consideration of 
each month or part of a month wherein I shall 
from any cause be a defaulter in respect thereof. 

Humph ! ” said Isaac. Five months 
— five tons — ten dollars a hundredweight 
— one thousand dollars more. Interest 
and capital to date, three thousand dol- 
lars.” 

He entered this item in the book, and 
then closed it with a sigh. 


®l)e iinal)M. 


7 


“ Ah ! these young rakes — they’ll beg- 
gar me yet.” 

A knock came to the door, and Rachel 
went to answer it. 

Peace,” said the new-comer. 

It was Omar Benani himself, tall, 
handsome, and well dressed. His breath 
came fast; he had been walking hard, 
and was visibly excited. 

My errand is urgent,” he said. “ Will 
Rachel pardon me ? May I speak with 
her father alone ? ” 

“No need of that,” said Isaac. “My 
daughter knows all my businesses. We 
have just been looking over your ac- 
counts together.” 

A frown crossed the young man’s face, 
but he made no answer. 

“It is a deep indebtedness, Omar 
Benani,” the old man added. “ Let 
me hope you have come to discharge 
it.” 

“Alas! no, sir,” said Omar, “but to 
borrow again.” 


8 




That is impossible,” said Isaac. I 
can lend no more.” 

‘^Only one thousand dollars,” the 
young man pleaded. ‘‘ Only one thou- 
sand, and I will repay you in a week.” 

^^You are five months behind already, 
Sidi,” said the Jew. 

One week, Isaac, only one week — I 
swear to you only one week more ” 

And what assurance have I ” 

^^My solemn word of honour.” 

Humph ! I would rather have bet- 
ter security.” 

The young man swallowed his anger 
and began again. I owe it to the Sul- 
tan ” 

So you have been spending the Sul- 
tan’s taxes as well as my money ? ” said 
the Jew. 

The young man bridled up, then re- 
covered himself, and answered quietly. 
Not so. But I have been idle, and I 
have not gathered them; heedless, and 
I have not reckoned them; perhaps 




9 


merciful, and I have not exacted them. 
Come now, Isaac, come now ! The Sultan 
is a hard master, you know. Just think 
of it — he has sent me a message to-night 
that if I have so much to spend I must 
have something to pay, and that he must 
have a thousand dollars before morning, 
or else ” 

He glanced uneasily at the girl and 
paused. 

“ Or else — what ? ” said Isaac. 

The young man dropped his eyes. 
‘^Or else I go to the Kasbah until all 
is paid.” 

Isaac took a long breath. Well, it’s 
your business — I cannot help you.” 

“ Don’t say that, Isaac. Only think — 
I should lie in the same prison with the 
worst scoundrels in the land. El Has- 
san is there — the man who stabbed his 
father last week with a pitchfork. I 
looked in at the door only yesterday.. 
It was horrible — horrible ! Men in rags 
chained to the pillars, men with wild 


lO 




eyes bolted to the walls, men with fam- 
ished faces crawling on the floor. And 
then the gloom, the stifling air, the 
odour of unclean bodies — ^ugh ! ” 

Isaac put out his lip, and said again, 
I cannot help you.” 

The young man was not to be gain- 
said.- have been a wild, reckless, 
headstrong fellow, a spendthrift and a 
fool, but IVe not deserved a fate like 
that.” 

“I cannot help you,” said Isaac, de- 
liberately. 

^^You are rich; you have only to put 
your hand in your purse, and you can 
save me from this shame, this degrada- 
tion. Come, now, Isaac, don’t be hard 
on a young jackass. Say the word, old 
friend.” 

“ I tell you I cannot help you.” 

The young man drew back for a mo- 
ment, and then, seeing Eachel by his 
side, he said, in a softening voice, “ Ea- 
chel, you are merciful, you are compas- 




II 


sionate ; your fatlier loves you and will 
deny you nothing — speak for me.” 

Isaac lifted his hand. “I forbid it,” 
he said, hotly. 

There was silence for a moment, and 
then Omar began to laugh. 

I see how it is,” he said ; “ you have 
wanted to degrade me in the eyes of 
your daughter. You knew I wanted to 
stand well with her, and you have made 
me ashamed. Well, good-bye, Eachel.” 
He lifted her hand and put his lips to it. 

Good-bye, and if ever I come out of the 
Kasbah ” 

I give you fair warning,” said Isaac, 
“ that you shall not do so until my debt 
also has been paid.” 

Omar laughed bitterly. “Just so, 
just so,” he said. “ That’s the way with 
these Jews the whole empire over. 
They’re protected themselves — by 
France, by Spain, by Italy — and we can- 
not touch them. But we who are Moors 
in our own country, they can put us in 
2 


12 




prison — they can grind our faces — they 

can suck our blood ” 

Isaac had gone to the door and was 
holding it open. Thank you for tell- 
ing me that, Sidi. I shall remember 
it.” 

Then remember one thing more, old 
man,” said Omar. ^^Do your best, do 
your worst, but your daughter and I 
shall meet again.” 


m. 

When Omar was gone, and father and 
daughter were alone, Isaac came back to 
the bureau,^ and said, in a strained voice, 
Eachel ! ” 

Yes, father.” 

Have you ever encouraged him ? ” 
Never.” 

Are you telling me the truth ? ” 
Why should you doubt me ? ” 

^^Then why is it whispered in Fez 
that the daughter of Isaac Laredo ” 


®l)e iiTal)bi. 


13 


If the young man is polite to me lie 
is not the only Moorish gentleman ” 

Isaac smote the bureau. “Not the 
only Moorish gentleman ! ” he repeated. 
“ Girl, do you know what you are say- 
ing ? ” 

Rachel did not flinch. “ Omar Ben- 
ani is nothing to me,” she said. “ All 
the same, if any one loved me I should 
not ask, ^ Is he a Jew ? ’ ^ Is he a Gen- 
tile ? ’ And if ' I loved any one, it 
would not be because he was either 
one or other, but because my love came 
from my heart and I could not help 
it.” 

“ Ask pardon of God, Rachel,” said 
Isaac. “ It was a Jewish mother who 
bore you, yet you can forget the past of 
your own people.” 

“ Love has nothing to do with the 
past, father,” said the girl. “It only 
looks to the future.” 

Isaac sat down and rocked him like a 
man overwhelmed. “I am punished for 


14 


iHaljbi. 


my fault,” lie said. When you were a 
child I separated from my brethren, and 
you have been brought up among the 
Moors. I was Chazzan in the synagogue 
then, and read the Thorah night and 
morning. I have not been a good 
Jew ” 

If you had been,” said the girl, ^^you 
would have married me long ago to the 
richest young man of your own congre- 
gation. No matter if I did not love 
him ? What does a Jewish woman want 
with love ? No matter if I did not even 
know him ? A Jewish woman must sac- 
rifice herself to her race.” 

“ Have done, child, have done,” said 
Isaac. God has darkened your under- 
standing.” Then turning to her as if by 
a sudden thought, he said, fiercely, But 
if I thought ... I have loved you ten- 
derly ; but if I imagined ... if I once 
dreamt that you could look beyond our 
own people and marry one of these in- 
fidel Moors, I had rather . . . yes, God 




15 


is my witness — I had rather see you 
'dead at my feet ! ” 

Rachel’s head dropped, and she began 
to cry. At sight of her tears the old 
man softened. “Dry youi' child,” 
he said. “And if Omar Benani is noth- 
ing to you, there is no harm done, and 
he shall come here no more. There — 
there — you Wouldn’t spoil your pretty 
face. . . . My cloak, Rachel — I have 
business in the Sok.” 

The girl took down his cloak and 
helped him on with it. 

“ Now my staff. That’s right ! . . . 
Crying still ? Foolish child, you shouldn’t 
do so. . . . Rachel, come here.” 

The girl came up to her father face to 
face. 

“ Answer me again — is it true — is this 
Omar Benani nothing to you ? ” 

“ Nothing.” 

The tone was unfaltering, and Isaac 
was satisfied. 

“Then what is there to cry about? 


i6 


@:i)e 


Come, kiss me ! . . . Omar shall go to 
the Kasbah — serve him right for a drunk- 
ard and a fool.” 

A clock struck four. 

Tut, tut ! ” said Isaac. Four o’clock, 
and 1 had business at the Adool’s at three. 
This foolish prattle has kept me late. 
Mohammed is to come at five.” 

Kachel’s face brightened. Moham- 
med Abd er Eahman ? ” she asked. 

“Mohammed Abd er Rahman,” re- 
peated the Jew. “I am losing the best 
of my partners to-day, Rachel, and I must 
go for the deed that dissolves our part- 
nership.” 

Rachel’s eagerness increased. “ Is Mo- 
hammed leaving us ? ” 

“ He is — more fool he. Some qualms 
of conscience, if you please ; some wild- 

goose errand, some mission ” 

“Then he is going away — Yes ? ” 

“I don’t know, and I don’t care. 
Truth is, I’m out of patience with the 
man and his crazy folly. He might have 




17 


done so well, too. Such a head, such 
talents, and as honest as the sun.” 

“ Will he be long away ? ” 

“ Ask himself ; he’ll be here presently ; 

keep him till I come. And, Eachel^ ” 

said Isaac, his hand on the door-handle. 
^‘Yes, father?” 

Do you love your old father ? ” 

“ You know I do.” 

^^And you would not shame him in 
the eyes of his own people ? ” 

“Not even in the eyes of his own 
people.” 

“ Then never speak again as you have 
spoken to-day — never, child, on your 
soul, never ! God blesses the increase of 
His chosen people, but only when they 
marry among themselves. What has 
preserved us through poverty and perse, 
cution? The eternal power, the inscru- 
table instinct that has kept us one — one 
people, one faith, one race. Love is 
strong, but race is stronger. Kemember, 
it was a Jewish woman who destroyed 


i8 


illalibi. 


the captain of the Assyrians, and smote 
off his head with his own fanchion. 
Good-bye, child, good-bye ! ” 


IV. 

The night began to gather, and Rachel 
stirred the stove, and lit the lamp. While 
doing so, she paused at intervals as if lis- 
tening for a familiar step. “ Mohammed 
Abd er Rahman,” she thought, is 
not of our people either.” She recalled 
the words of her father, Love is strong, 
but race is stronger,” and she shook her 
head. What was it to be a Jew ? What 
was it to be a Gentile ? Only to have 
been born in this house or in that. But 
love was born everywhere. It came to 
all houses alike. It knew nothing of a 
Jewish mother, nothing of a Gentile 
father, nothing of faith, or race, or 
a chosen people. “It was a Jewish 
woman who destroyed the captain of the 
Assyrians, and smote off his head with 




19 


his own fauchion.” No ! no ! no ! Love 
was lord, and king, and conqueror. Love 
was all in all. 

There was a footstep on the balcony 
of the patio and a face appeared in the 
darkness of the open arch. Kachel made 
a little nervous cry, and then stifled it in 
the depths of her throat. At the next 
moment a stranger was in the room. 
His figure was strong and noble, his face 
was swarthy and solemn, his large eyes 
were the eyes of an enthusiast. He was 
dressed simply in the long blue jellab of 
his country, and he wore the tarboosh 
without the turban. It was Mohammed 
Abd er Eahman. 

My father has gone to the notary’s,” 
said Kachel. “ He will be back present- 
ly. I was to keep you until he came.” 

^H’ll wait — I have something to pay 
to him,” said Mohammed, and he drew 
out a bag of money. 

^^Then it is true you' are going to 
leave us ? ” said Kachel. 


20 


®l)c 


“ I must,” said Mohammed. 

“ Where are you going to ? ” 

“ First into the mountains.” 

“ Why there ? ” said the girl. 

Mohammed’s deep voice deepened as 
he replied, “ To prepare for my mission, 
to read and think and — pray.” 

Eachel dropped her head and said 
again, “And your mission — what is it ? ” 

“ To liberate my country — ^to emanci- 
pate my countrymen. My people are 
oppressed — I could wish to relieve them 
of their burdens. Their laws are tyran- 
nical — I could wish to make them just. 
Their religion is corrupt — I could wish 
to purify it. Their lives are miserable, 
their homes are squalid, their women 
are slaves — I could wish to make them 
happy and cheerful and free.” 

“ These are great aims,” said Eackel, 
“ Only an army could accomplish them.” 

“ God will find it,” said Mohammed. 

“ The man who attempts so much will 
be called a revolutionary,” said Eachel. 




21 


The name is a proud one,” said Mo- 
hammed. 

“ He will be a rebel against the Sul- 
tan.” 

The Sultan must think of that.” 

“Even the people he fights for will 
deride him and perhaps stone him,” said 
the girl. 

“They’ll know not what they do,” 
said Mohammed. 

“ But remember yourself,” said Bachel. 

“ I have vrorthier things to think of.” 

“ You might become rich ” 

“ I had rather remain poor.” 

“ You will be giving up house and 
home and ease and comfort.” 

“ God wdll provide for me.” 

“ Perhaps friendship,” said the girl. 

“ It is my duty,” said Mohammed. 

“ Perhaps — love.” 

The enthusiast drew a long breath, 
but made no answer. With downcast 
eyes Eachel spoke again. “ Say that 
some one cared for you. Say there were 


22 


^[)C 


barriers between you — ^barriers of class, 
and religion, and race ; say she did think 
of that — she did not fear it — but was 
ready to run all risks — to face all diffi- 
culties.” 

‘^God would reward her,” said Mo- 
hammed. 

Say she came to you and said, ^ Mo- 
hammed, do not go out on this wild er- 
rand, this endless enterprise, this hope- 
less adventure. You are poor — I have 
enough for both. You are ambitious — 
I can help you to rise in life. Forget 
your mission, and I will forget my 
religion, my race.’ Say that some-one 
said this.” 

God is merciful,” said Mohammed. 

He will not suffer me to be so tried 
and tempted.” 

“But say she did,” said Kachel, and 
her breath came loud and fast. 

“If she asked me,” began Mohammed, 
“ to forsake the work to which God has 
called me ” 




23 


Well, well, wliat then ? ” said Kachel. 

Then,” said Mohammed, I should 
cut her out of my soul, though I loved 
her better than life itself, and it tore my 
heart in twain.” 

Rachel was crushed and ashamed. 
“ What have I been saying ? ” she 
thought, and the hot flush mounted to 
her forehead. 

Isaac came back, and there were curt 
salutations. “ Leave us, Rachel,” he 
said. “ I may call you by-and-by.” 

Mohammed opened the door of an 
inner room for her. She passed through 
without looking at him. 

So you are quite determined ? ” said 
Isaac. 

Quite,” said Mohammed. 

You have brought back the money ? ” 

^‘It is here,” said Mohammed, ofter- 
ing the bag that he held in his hand. 

^^And here,” said Isaac, handing a 
document, is the deed of our partner- 
ship.” 


24 


®I)e itTal)bL 


Mohammed glanced at the paper and 
tore it across. Isaac counted the money 
and put the bag on to the bureau. 

So that is all that remains between 
us,” said Isaac. 

Not all,” said Mohammed ; I have 
something to say, something to ask.” 

What can I do for you ? ” 

^^When I leave Fez to-night I leave 
my heart behind me.” 

The Jew lifted his bushy eyebrows, 
“ and smiled coldly. 

^^It is a cheerless life that is before 
me,” said Mohammed; ^^a life of soli- 
tude and privation — perhaps of peril. I 
could wish no one to share it — least of 
all the woman I love. She has been 
delicately nurtured ; she has a father 
who worships her; it would be selfish 
— it would be cruel. But if I might 
carry away the memory of the love she 
bears me — if I might say in my solitude, 
^ You are here and she is there, but you 
can feel through the distance her warm 


iUal)bi. 


25 


embrace ’ — it would brighten the dark 
hours of my life alone. If I might tell 
myself that after all is over, and my mis- 
sion is fulfilled ” 

I see — I see,” said Isaac ; “ you wish 
me to speak to her father. Is that it ? ” 

Mohammed dropped his head. 

‘^Come, come,” said Isaac; “don’t be 
afraid — who is he ? ” 

“ Yourself,” said Mohammed. 

The Jew gasped, and became deadly 
white. Then, in a voice like the scream 
of a wild bird, he cried, “ Eachel ! 
You ask me to give you my daughter 
Eachel ? ” 

“Only when I return,” said Moham- 
med ; “ only when my work is done.” 

“I’d rather strike her dead with my 
own hand ! ” cried the J ew. 

The door of the inner room opened, 
and Eachel herself stood on the thresh- 
old. 

“ Did you call me, father ? ” she asked. 

“No; why should I?” said Isaac, 


26 




harshly. “ Go back to your own room 
instantly.” 

The girl hesitated, looked doubtfully 
at the two men as they stood face to face, 
then turned about, and went away reluc- 
tantly. 

There was silence for a moment after 
she was gone. Then Mohammed, with 
eyes on the ground, said quietly, I un- 
derstand you — I am not of your peo- 
ple. I hadn’t forgotten the barrier be- 
- tween us ; but you were not a strict 
Jew, I was not a straight Muslim, and 
I thought ” 

“ Then you were wrong, sir,” said the 
old man; I wish my child to remain a 
Jewish woman, and not to become the 
wife of an outlaw and an infidel.” 

Mohammed drew himself up at the in- 
sult, but commanding his anger he an- 
swered as quietly as before, “So I am 
fit to be your own partner, Isaac Laredo, 
not your daughter’s husband. Ye t it was 
for Rachel that I served you all those 


®:i)e 


27 


years as Jacob served Laban, and sbe 
was the hope and sunshine of my life. 
But my love was a blunder. The 
breach between us is irreparable. I 
am severely punished for my presump- 
tion.” 

He was going out with heavy steps, 
when Isaac, who was still fuming in his 
passion, cried, “ Wait ! ” 

Mohammed faced back to him. 

“Have you ever spoken of this to 
Kachel herself ? ” he asked. 

“ Never ! ” said Mohammed. 

“ Then I warn you not to do so.” 

Mohammed shook his head slowly, 
and with a smile of inexpressible sad- 
ness. 

“ Have no fear,” he said. “ I shall not 
appeal over your head to any love for me 
in your daughter’s heart. I will take my 
answer. I will go away — I will carry my 
disappointment with me. I will follow 
the work I have undertaken. Before 
daybreak I shall be far in the moun- 
3 


28 


^\)c 


tains. I will try to forget the heaven- 
blind days I have spent in this house, 
and perhaps a time may come when I 
shall think of your own words with less 
pain. Hard as they are I will not an- 
swer them — I will not retort them upon 
you, Isaac Laredo. You are a Jew, and 
it was a Jew who said, ^ Resist not evil.’ 
You are Rachel’s father also, and I give 
you this promise for your comfort, as long 
as you live, as long as your daughter is 
with you, no word of love shall pass be- 
tween her and me ” 

“ And after that ? ” said Isaac, “ what 
after that ? ” 

After that,” said Mohammed, draw- 
ing himself up and speaking resolutely, 
after that, God^s will he doner 
He went out as he had entered, quietly, 
slowly, solemnly, only with head bent 
and eyes on the ground. While he did 
so, going down by the steps of the patio 
to the left, another man came up the 
steps of the patio to the right, and stood 




29 


for a moment to watch him descending. 
It was Omar Benani, who had come back 
drunk. 


V. 

Isaac Laredo stood in his anger by 
the bureau until Mohammed’s last words 
were spoken ; then he turned about, 
white with rage, muttering, Presumptu- 
ous inhdel ! ” and came face to face with 
Omar, who stood grinning at him in the 
open doorway. 

“Back again, Jew,” said Omar. 

“ Who sent for you^ sir ? ” cried Isaac. 

Omar laughed a drunken laugh and 
wagged his head tauntingly. “ Oh, oh ! 
vexed are we, eh, Jew, eh?” 

“Leave my house instantly,” cried 
Isaac. 

“Not I — not till you’ve heard what 
I’ve come to tell you. Listen ! Ta-mor- 
row morning I’ll be pitched into prison 
for a debt I do not owe. You might 
have saved me from that degradation, 


30 




old greybeard, and you wouldn’t. You 
denied me mercy, and by all the Saints 
and tbe Prophet you shall give me retri- 
bution. You refused me your dirty 
money, but as sure as I come out of the 
Kasbah, I’ll take what you value more 
— I’ll take your daughter. D’ye hear 
me, you miserly skinflint. I’ll take your 
daughter.” 

“ Silence, wretch ! ” cried Isaac, shriek- 
ing in his rage. 

You’ll be dead and gone then, old 
man, and she’ll be mine, and this house 
will be mine, and everything you have 
in the world will be mine.” 

Liar ! Scoundrel ! ” cried Isaac, his 
voice coming thick and hoarse. 

Choke, Jew, choke — why don’t you? ” 
cried Omar, rolling with mocking laugh- 
ter. 

Isaac could command himself no long- 
er. He lifted his clenched fist and struck 
Omar on his grinning face. 

Then Omar’s eyes flashed. “Strike 




31 


me, will you, Jew? Take that, tken — 
and that — and that,” and after every 
word a blow fell on Isaac’s breast with 
the weight and thud of a sledge-hammer. 

The old man fell heavily, and Omar 
reeled into the room. Seeing on the 
bureau the bag of money which Moham- 
med had left, he snatched it up, laughing 
hideously in his drunken fury, and say- 
ing with a chuckle. 

Money ! And I am to go to prison 
for the want of it ! ” 

Isaac scrambled to his feet with a face 
fiercely 'distorted. ‘‘ Thief ! Kobber ! 
Villain ! ” he shrieked, and he threw 
himself on Omar again in his effort to 
grab at the bag. 

There was a struggle. Omar dashed 
the money at Isaac’s head and cried. 
Take it, then, and take my curse along 
with it ! ” 

Isaac fell once more, this time with a 
deep groan and a gurgling cry of “ Mur- 
derer, murderer ! ” 


32 




The lamp had been thrown over and 
extinguished. There was another groan 
out of the darkness, and then a moment 
of awful silence. 

Omar was sobered in an instant. He 
threw open the stove, and a streak of 
dull red light crossed the body of the 
Jew. The face of the old man was 
changing. Omar knelt over it and 
watched it. 

Bismillah ! The Prophet help me ! 
What have I done ? ” he muttered. 

Then a tremulous voice came from 
within — “ Father ! Father ! ” 

What’s that ? Pachel ! Allah, Allah ! 
Where am I ? I’ve killed her fa- 
ther ! ” 

Footsteps were approaching. Omar 
listened; then, with an affrighted look, 
he rose and fled out of the house. 

At the next moment the inner door 
opened, and Rachel came in, saying. 
Father ! ” 

She took one step into the darkness, 


inaI)M. 


33 


and then stopped and said, in a tremu- 
lous voice, In the dark ! ” 

She paused, and then called, ‘^Mo- 
hammed ! ” 

She paused again ; her breathing was 
audible. “ Both gone ! ” she said. “ Then 
what was the noise ? I’m sure I heard 
their voices. And what has happened 
to the lamp ? Something fell — what was 
'it ? ” 

She stepped further into the room 
and stumbled against her father’s body. 
“ What’s this ? ” she cried, bending over 
it. She saw what it was and cried, 
“ Father ! Father ! ” and lifted the old 
man’s head on to her breast. “ Oh, it’s 
a dream,” she thought. “It’s a bad 
dream!” Then she cried again, “Fa- 
ther ! Speak to me . . . tell me . . .Fa- 
ther ! . . . Why, he is dead ! . . . Some 
one has killed him 1 ” She dropped the 
head back and picked up something from 
the floor. It was the bag of money — 
Mohammed’s money. “ Then it was he ! 


34 




Mohammed ! ” she thought. “ No, no ! 
That’s impossible. For shame ! For 
shame!” She tried to think. There 
was no one else,” she thought. left 
them together. I heard their quarrelling. 
I saw them in the midst of it. . . . It 
was he — Mohammed — and I loved him ! 
—Oh! oh! oh!” 

She fell over the prostrate body and 
wept; then she rose with flaming eyes. 
All the love in her heart had turned to 
hate in the fierce battle of love and race, 
the wild tangle of chance and error. 
“ Murderer ! Assassin ! Infidel ! ” 

Mohammed was gone, but no matter. 
He had fled into the mountains, but that 
was nothing. He would escape the law. 
Let him. He would go on with his mis- 
sion. So he might. He would become 
great and mighty and powerful. God 
grant it ! But her vengeance should fol- 
low him; it should find him out; it 
should destroy him. At the topmost 
reach of his ambition, on the day when 




35 


the dream of his life came true, her bolt 
should fall. 

“Father, I swear it! On your mur- 
dered body I swear it, by the God of our 
father Jacob ! ” 

“ Love is strong, but race is stronger. 
It was a Jewish woman who destroyed 
the captain of the Assyrians and smote 
ofl; his head with his own fauchion.” 


SECO]^D PAET. 


I. 

It was higli fair in the Sok el Foki. 
The market-place of Fez was a moving 
mass of white haiks, grey jellabs, and 
Maghribi blankets. Here and there the 
shaven head of the Eeefian ; here and 
there the plaited crown lock of the Ber- 
ber ; here and there the dark gabardine 
and black skull cap of the Jew. Stalls, 
with penthouse shields, wooden booths 
open to the sun, wares piled up on the 
ground. At the back the wall of the 
old city, and beyond the wall the moun- 
tains cleaving the sky. 

Water carriers were tinkling their 
bells and selling water for copper coins. 
A black mule-driver was crying “ Arrah ! 
Arrah ! ” A man on an ass was ci’ushing 
through the throng and crying Balak ! 




37 


Balak ! ” A blind beggar was sitting in 
the shade of a balcony and crying Al- 
lah ! Allah ! ” 

It was evening. The sun was set- 
ting on the domes and minarets of the 
mosques. Suddenly, there came a peal 
of noisy laughter from a lane that went 
off from the market-place. The murmur 
of voices ceased. All stopped haggling 
and listened. 

An old woman was selling dates. 

That’s nothing ! ” she said. How 
much did I say for the basket ? Ten 
moozoonah ? By the Prophet, I cannot 
bate it.” 

There was another peal of noisy 
laughter, and the people began to move 
off in the direction of the noise. 

“ It’s nothing, I say. Only idle clowns ’ 
killing time. Six, you say? I am the 
loser at that price. Yet come ” 

She offered her dates, but the buyer 
had disappeared. Most of the people 
had gone by this time. Only the stall- 


38 




keepers were left, and they began to 
gather up their goods. 

No use trying to keep an honest roof 
over your head these days,” said the old 
woman, packing her basket. Best live 
in a tent with those black- faced, beg- 
ging, thieving Berbers — that’s what I 
say.” 

A young man came up at the mo- 
ment, dressed rakishly. His name was 
Othman; he kept a shop at the other 
side of the market-place. “ So do I, O 
little mother,” said he. “ Now look at 
this son of the desert, this man of the 
book, this brand new Mahdi ” 

^‘Oh, it’s he again, is it?” said the 
old woman, with a motion of the head 
towards where the people had gone 
out. 

“No, but Jellalli making fun of him.” 

“Then where’s the preacher?” said 
another of the stall-keepers. 

“ The Mahdi ? ” said Othman. “ Not 
down from the mountains yet. Oh, 




39 


there’ll be fine doings when he comes to- 
night. Those black Berbers are throng- 
ing into the town by hundreds.” 

The old woman packed up quicker. 

Then I’ll pack and begone,” she said. 
“Plague take the black-faced, thieving 
Berbers out of their dirty tents.” 

“ So say I, O little mother,” said 0th- 
man. 

“And plague take this Mahdi, too,” 
said the old woman, going off. 

“ The demons fiy away with both of 
them — both of them — both.” 

He was twisting about, laughing to 
himself, and unconscious of the presence 
of a spectator, when he came face to face 
with a young girl who had slipped out 
on to the balcony of a big house at the 
eastern side, and stood leaning with 
folded arms and looking down. The 
sunset was on her face. She was swarthy 
and beautiful. 

“Oh!” said Othman, drawing up 
abashed. 


40 


QLl)c ittaljbi. 


# 


^^You did that very well, Othman,” 
said the girl, coldly. 

Othman began to stammer. I — I 
didn’t mean — I didn’t know — you’ll 
not mind what I said — will you, 
Asma ? ” 

About the Mahdi ? ” 

No, the Berbers.” 

The girl mimicked Othman ’s voice and 
manner. The demons fly away with 
both of them — eh ? ” 

She was laughing roguishly, and Oth- 
man joined her, nervously. 

That was only to get rid of the old 
black cat, and leave the place clear for 
a word with — somebody, you know,” he 
said. “Besides, you are not a Berber, 
Asma, if your father is one. Why, it’s 
two years since you came to live with 
Eachel, the Jewess — ever since Isaac 
Laredo died.” 

“Why aren’t you at the bazaar to- 
day ? ” said the girl. 

Othman looked astounded. “ Haven’t 




41 


you heard the commotion ? Jellalli has 
come — Jellalli, the poet.” 

That lying good-for-nothing ! What 
for ? ” 

To make a mock of the Mahdi — so 
there’s likely to be sport to-night.” 

“And is that why you have put 
on your best new turban, 0th- 
man ? ” 

“Don’t you make a mock of me. 
Asm a,” said Othman ; and then, with an 
upward turn of the whites of his eyes, 
“ Oh, Asma ! ” 

“Well, Othman!” said Asma, mock- 
ing him again. 

“ Is it two years or two centuries since 
your father gave you to Rachel, the Jew- 
ess ? ” 

“ Gracious saints ! Do I look it ? ” 
cried Asma. 

“No, but I feel it,” said Othman. 
“ Asma, your father is sure to be here 
to-night, and I’ll ask him again. I’ll 
offer him something for your dowry, and 


42 




if he takes it we shall be married within 
a week.” 

But if not — what then ? ” 

Then I’ll poison myself ; I’ll drown 
myself ; I’ll burn myself, and everything 
I have — I will, by Allah ! ” 

“ And by Allah, the more fool you,” 
said the girl. Othman, you talk big of 
the Berbers ; but if a Berber wanted a 
camel and offered to buy it, and the 
.owner wouldn’t sell it, though he couldn’t 
want it for himself, and had lent it to 
somebody who didn’t prize it, what do 
you think he would do ? ” 

Why, what?” 

“Why, take it, you donkey, take it 
for nothing,” said the girl. 

Othman clapped his hands. “ Asma ! 
what a girl you are ! You ought to be 
a man ! ” 

“Heaven forbid I should be such a 
monkey ! ” said Asma. 

There was another peal of laughter 
outside. 




43 


Hark ! ” said Asma. There’s sure 
to be a tumult to-night when the Mahdi 
comes down from the hills. Listen. 
Come back at moon - rise. I’ll be 
ready.” 

Othman was buckling up his courage. 
^‘I’ll do it,” he said, your father 
says no ” 

Hush ! my father is coming.” 

She had raised herself on tiptoe to 
look down a side street, and then was 
gone into the house like a gleam. 

A moment afterwards a stalwart fel- 
low came slouching into the market- 
place. The long gun of the Berbers 
was in his hand ; he had many daggers 
at his girdle ; his jellab trailed on the 
ground, and its lower edge was a fringe 
of tatters. His name was Otba. He 
was a Berber and the father of Asma. 

^^Here again, little master?” he cried, 
seeing Othman under the balcony. 

^^Yes, Otba,” said Othman, with a 
tragic air, ^^here again, and again, and 
4 




. 44 


always until you give up the jewel I 
have won from you.” 

Catch your fish by the head, boy. 
What will you bait for her ? ” said 
Otba. 

will give you — ^by Allah, I will 
give you a camel for your daughter,” 
said 0th man. 

“ Tut ! ” said Otba. 

will give you — remember God, I 
say — I will give you a fat camel.” 

Otba laughed uproariously. ^^Away 
to your frills and ribbons, little master. 
Or is it candy and lolly-pops ? ” 

Yes, I know ! ” said Othman. You 
despise me because I am a town-dweller, 
and earn my bread by the sweat of my 
brow. It’s the way of all idle fellows, 
and thieves, and rascals, and vagabonds, 
the world over.” 

Otba lifted his gun threateningly. 
“Show us the breadth of your shoul- 
ders, little brother,” he said. 

Othman took the hint. “But you’ll 


®I)e 


45 


repent it yet,” he said. I’ll go away, 
but I’ll come back — I’ll come back.” 

As he turned the corner, Asma, un. 
seen by her father, reappeared on the 
balcony, motioned to him significantly, 
and disappeared. 

^^Yes, you’ll go away a donkey, and 
come back a jackass,” said Otba, laugh- 
ing. 

Three men came walking through the 
market-place. One of them was Boob- 
ker, a Fez merchant, an elderly man, 
held in respect. 

Peace to you, Sidi Boobker,” said 
the Berber. 

Peace! Peace! welcome to Fez! 
welcome ! ” said the old gentleman. 

Welcome to the strangers, Sidi,” said 
Otba, indicating Boobker’s companions. 

Who are they ? ” 

Merchants from Tadla,” said Boob- 
ker. 

“ And your friend, Boobker ? ” said 
one of the two, indicating Otba. 


46 


QL\)C i!lal)bi. 


Otba, the Berber,” said Boobker. 

Fresh from the mountain, Otba?” 
said the stranger. His name was 
Asad. 

Within the hour, Sidi,” said the 
other. 

Did you see the Mahdi there ? ” 

Otba sneered at the name. “Mo- 
hammed Abd er Rahman ? I did. He 
will be down before long, and a fine 
welcome awaits him.” 

The old gentleman looked at the 
Berber. “That’s not the voice of a 
friend, Otba. You do not love the 
Mahdi.” 

“ Why should I ? ” said Otba. 

“ He is the brother of the poor,” said 
Boobker. 

Otba laughed derisively. “ Call your 
enemy so when he gives scalding water 
to your thirsty camel.” 

“ He is not a man to laugh at, broth- 
er,” said Boobker. “Those who curse 
him to-day may bless him to-morrow. 




47 


Not for nothing was he called ^ Moham- 
med the trusty.’ ” 

“ That was long ago, Sidi,” said the 
Berber. “No longer ^Mohammed the 
trusty,’ but ^Mohammed the madman.’ 
He spends his days alone on the moun- 
tains, and his nights preaching to jeer- 
ing clowns in the streets of Fez.” 

“ He has his mission, Otba,” said the 
merchant, “ and more than the clowns of 
Fez will yet hear it.” 

“ Mission ! ” laughed the Berber. 
“ What is it ? To sow discord where 
there was peace, to set brother against 
brother, father against son, wife against 
husband ? Mission ! Bah ! ” 

There was another peal of laughter. 
Otba lifted his head, and went off in 
the direction of the sound. 

The merchants drew closer together. 
“We must get the Mahdi away,” whis- 
pered Boobker. “His life is not safe. 
Depend upon it, that man has been sent 
for.” Then, looking across the market- 


48 


Qtljc 


place, lie added, ^‘And here come his 
masters.” 

“ Who are they ? ” said the other 
Tadla merchant. His name was El 
Arby. 

The new Basha of Fez,” said Boob- 

ker. 

“ A wolf ! ” said Asad. 

“ And Jonas Maliki, his secretary,” 
continued Boobker. 

“ An old fox,” said Asad. 

II. 

The Basha (the Governor) and his 
Jewish secretary came along, talking 
together as they walked. 

“Thus and thus it is everywhere,” 
said the Jew. “Yet I half suspect the 
madman has more friends than show 
themselves.” At that moment his eye 
fell on the merchants. “ Now old Boob- 
ker, there, his uncle, and those mer- 
chants from Tadla ” 




49 


“Sound them, Jonas; I should love 
to know,” said the Basha. 

Jonas saluted Boobker with vast re- 
spect. “ Peace ! ” 

“ Peace ! ” answered Boobker. 

“ The market place to-day has been 
like a fair waiting for its buffoon, hasn’t 
it?” said the Jew. “Pity a time-hon- 
oured family like that of this Mahdi 
should be turned to ridicule by the zany 
doings of one of its members. We 
should drive the man out. Barbary 
could spare him. What do you say, 
Boobker ? ” 

The old merchant looked at the Jew 
sideways and answered, contemptuous- 
ly, “ I say ridicule is a sword without 
a hilt, wounding only the hand that 
wields it, and that Barbary could spare 
something much better than the Mah- 
di.” 

“ And what’s that ? ” said J onas, 
knowingly. 

“ The Jews that have infested it 


50 




these two hundred years,” said the mer- 
chant. 

In a moment Jonas had drawn a 
knife. “ Insolent beggar ! ” he cried. 

“ Dog ! ” cried Boobker. 

They were closing to fight when a 
new-comer stepped between them. He 
w^as a young man, tall, powerful, hand- 
some, and richly dressed. It was Omar 
Benani. Stop ! ” he cried. “ What- 
ever Barbary could spare, one thing she 
wants, and that is a man who can make 
her men agree. Put up your knives be- 
fore the Basha. If the Jew is the leper, 
the Arab is the plague*” 

Boobker laughed, and pointing to the 
big house he said, significantly, “Pity 
your Jewish mistress didn’t hear that 
word, Omar Benani ! ” 

With that and a parting look at the 
Jew, the old merchant went off, followed 
by his friends from Tadla. 

“ He was not always a saint, you say, 
this Mahdi ? ” said the Basha. 


Sriie iHalibi. 


51 


“ Always ! ” cried J onas, both hands 
up. “Like many another saint he has 
come to his saintship through sin. And 
this,” he added pointing to the big 
house, “ is the very scene of his trans- 
figuration.” 

“ This ? ” said the Basha. 

“ That,” said the Jew, “ was the house 
of Isaac Laredo — one of my own people. 
He died before you came to Fez. He 
was killed. Bumour whispered that 
this Mahdi killed him.” 

Omar had been standing by, and he 
said, impatiently, “ That’s only an old 
gossip’s story, Jonas. Why repeat it to 
the Basha ? ” 

“ Gently, young man, gently,” said the 
Governor. 

Omar turned aside and walked up and 
down restlessly, as if trying not to hear 
what was being said, yet unable to tear 
himself away. 

“Isaac had a daughter,” said Jonas. 
“ He was rich and she was beautiful. 


52 




So certain of your Moorisli young bloods 
overcame their dread of doing ill in the 
next world in the hope of doing well in 
this one.” 

The Basha laughed. So the young 
Muslims pay court to the rich Jewess ? ” 
Isaac would have none of them. 
He turned them all from his door. One 
night,” said Jonas, solemnly, ‘^he was 
found dead in his room, and the last 
man known to see him there was a cer- 
tain partner of Isaac’s own — Mohammed 
Abd er Bahman.” 

Omar stopped. “ Who knows he was 
the last ? ” he said. 

“ Eachel herself admitted it.” 

And what did my predecessor do ? ” 
asked the Basha. 

“Nothing,” said Jonas. “The man 
had fled into the mountains.” 

“ And so out of remorse the murderer 
became a saint — is that it?” said the 
Basha. 

“And turned his back on Eachel,” 




53 


said Jonas, and tlien they langhed to- 
gether. 

“ Don’t heed the old-wife’s croak, lord 
Basha,” said Omar. Isaac Laredo is 
dead. So much the better, whoever 
killed him.” 

The laughter in the lane came again, 
more loudly than before. 

“ He’s coming ! ” said the Basha. 

This madness must not spread. Watch 
him, listen to him closely, bring me 
word of what he says. Has Otba ar- 
rived ? ” 

“ He has, lord Basha,” said Jonas. 

“ Good ! Murderer or no murderer,, 
we must scour the vermin out of Fez. 
Then this upstart Mahdi, this champion 
of the poor, this liberator of women, this 
greater than Moses, this Messiah, this 
Star that is to rise when the sun of the 
Sultan has set ” 

Jonas heard no more. The Basha’s 
voice was lost in the noise of a great 
concourse of people who were running 


54 


(2:i)e ma[)hl 


into tlie market-place. The Mahdi was 
coming from tke mountains to preach in 
the streets. 


m. 

He wore the sheepskin jellab of a 
mountaineer. Walking slowly, firmly, 
resolutely, he came on in the midst of 
an uproarious crowd that jeered at him 
at every step. He did not shrink ; he 
showed no fear ; the derision of the 
people did not touch him. Only his 
dark eyes flashed under his white turban, 
and the hand that held his long staff 
trembled visibly. 

In front of him, and stepping back- 
wards before him in mock obeisance, 
walked a pert little man in the scarlet 
soolham of an Eastern dandy, twanging 
a ginbri, the two-stringed tom-tom of 
the country. This was Jellalli, the poet. 
They had come to that part of the Sok el 
Foki which was immediately beneath the 


CIl)e iiXaljM. 


55 


big liouse with the balcony, when Jellalli 
stopped, waved his arm with a large 
gesture, and proceeded to address the 
people. 

^^Men of Fez,” cried the little poet, 
behold the Taleb who knows what is 
going on in heaven ! ” 

The people laughed. 

Behold the son of old Larby’s camel 
driver, who holds meetings with the 
angels in the hills ! ” 

The people laughed louder. 

Behold your Mahdi ! Speak, O 
prophet ! why are you silent ? ” 

The Mahdi drew himself up to his full 
height and answered, “Balaam himself 
was silent when his ass began to speak.” 

“ The prophet is ungrateful,” said the 
little poet. “ Look at the crowds I have 
brought out to greet you ! Have I not 
done well ? ” 

“You have indeed done well,” said 
the Mahdi. “You have been less than 
a week in this city, Jellalli, but you have 


56 




lost no time. You have made yourself 
the reputation of the greatest liar ever 
known here — and that’s no little thing 
in Fez.” 

The people laughed again. 

“ So a prophet is a bird that fouls its 
own nest,” said Jellalli. And then, as 
by a sudden thought, ‘‘ But if you are a 
prophet, work us a miracle.” 

God no longer works miracles by his 
prophets,” said the Mahdi. 

Aha ! and why not ? ” said the poet. 

Because,” said the Mahdi, the devil 
has begun to do so by his fools.” 

The laughter of the people continued, 
and the Mahdi faced them fearlessly. 
“ Go on ! ” he cried. 1 am not the 
first prophet who has been laughed to 
scorn. But all that you do this day in 
mockery you will one day do in earnest.” 

^^So,” said Jellalli, with a knowing 
look on the people about, “we are to 
bow the back to you as to a king sent 
down from heaven ? ” 




57 


“Yes, by Allah!” said the Mahdi, 
with heat and dignity. 

There was great laughter. The little 
poet began to twang his ginbri again, 
and to sing a song of mock tribute : 

“ On a day that’s to come 
Well all have to sing 
The praise and the pluck 
Of Mohammed the king ! ” 

The Mahdi listened unmoved, but when 
Jellalli had finished he answered bitterly : 

“ On a day that’s to come 
We’ll see in the mire 
The tongue and the trunk 
Of Jellalli, the liar!” 

The laughter was now turned against 
the poet, and he was hustled out of the 
crowd. 

Otba, the Berber, crushed through. 
“ And what’s your new doctrine, Mahdi ? ” 
he asked. 

“To bend the knee to one God and 
serve no false gods,” said the Mahdi. 


58 


illaljM. 


^^What false gods do we serve? We 
say our prayers to Allah, don’t we ? ” 
That’s all you do for Him,” said the 
Mahdi. ^^But what do you worship? 
Dollars ! ” 

Otba pretended to laugh. And wom- 
en ! ” he said. Allow that at least we 
worship women.” 

^^Then that’s why you keep them 
penned up in your harems,” said the 
Mahdi, “buying them like your justice, 
selling them like your honour, trading 
with their beauty as you would trade 
with Paradise.” 

There was a murmur of assent, and 
Jonas, the Jew, who had been standing 
on the skirts of the crowd, shouted over 
the people’s heads, “ Don’t listen to that 
pestilent babbler. We thought him a 
madman, a dreamer, a man enchanted. 
We were wrong. He is a revolutionary, 
bent on the ruin of our religion and our 
laws. Don’t you see his purpose? It 
is to pluck down the Basha and the 




59 


Sultan, and turn the East into the 
West.” 

The shaft told; the murmurs of as- 
sent became murmurs of anger. 

“ My people,” said the Mahdi, in tones 
of appeal, “ do not hear them. There is 
nothing laid upon me but to deliver a 
plain message. I come to recall the 
Islam of Mohammed. If that plucks 
down the great, they are grinding your 
faces; if it lifts up the poor, they are 
your brethren ; if it liberates women, 
they are your sisters. Hear me ! I 
swear to you by the breath of dawn, 
by the stars that hide, by the darken- 
ing night, that a day is coming when 
this land shall be rent asunder, when 
Barbary shall quake ” 

He did not finish. His speech had 
created a great division. Boobker and 
the two merchants from Tadla returned 
to the market-place. They tried in vain 
to pacify the people. Hands were lifted 
against the Mahdi, and there were- cries 
6 


6o 


^\)c ilIal)M. 


of Down witli him ! ” Stone him ! ” 
“ Away with him ! ” 

The door of the big house opened 
again, and a woman appeared on the 
balcony. In another moment she had 
run down the steps, and was .crushing 
her way through the crowd to the 
Mahdi’s side, lifting her hand in front 
of her, and crying, Stop ! stop ! ” It 
was Eachel, the J ewess. The people 
made way for her and fell back. There 
was a moment of silence. 

“ Are you men ? ” she cried. “ Is this 
Fez ! Is there no chivalry in Barbary ? 
One defenceless man among so many ! 
Shame on you ! ” Then, to the Mahdi, 
‘^Come with me! Take refuge in my 
house.” 

The Mahdi took the hand that was 
held out to him. ^‘Gentle lady,” he 
said, “we are in the hand of God, and 
He has sent His angel to protect His 
servant.” 

The lady led the Mahdi to the steps. 


®l)e 


6i 


No one attempted to prevent ; no one 
spoke. Going tkrougli the crowd they 
passed young Omar, and Rachel whis- 
pered, Come to me to-night.” 

To-night,” said Omar, with a bow. 

“ Remember ! ” said Rachel. 

In a moment the Madhi and the Jew- 
ess were gone into the house. Boobker 
'and the two merchants from Tadla fol- 
lowed them. The darkness was gather- 
ing, and the crowd dispersed. 


IV. 

A few minutes later only Omar, J onas, 
and Otba were left in the open square. 

What does this mean ? Does she 
love the man still ? ” said Jonas. 

Don’t ask me,” said Omar. 

^^Omar,” said Jonas, in an undertone, 
^Ghis man must die, and you must kill 
him.” 

God forbid ! ” exclaimed Omar. 

“You alone have entrance to the 


62 




house. You are to come here to-uight. 
I know it — I heard you,” said Jonas. 

“ But what has he done ? ” said Omar. 

“ Done ? ” said Jonas. “ Nothing that 
the Basha can lay hold of, and therefore 
we must work his will without him. 
Let this madman go on for a year, and 
there will not be a Basha left in Bar- 
bary.” 

“ Even so, what of that ? ” said Omar. 

Otba laughed bitterly. Are you 
afraid of a blood feud ? ” he said. 
“Well, let the saints decide. We’ll 
draw lots. Here ! ” 

He took olf his satchel, his money-bag, 
and handed it to the Jew. “I’ll mark 
one moozoonah,” he said. He took a 
copper coin out of the bag, marked it 
with the point of his knife, and cast it 
back. “It is done. Now I draw.” 
With that he dipped his hand into the 
bag. 

“And I,” said Jonas, and be dipped 
his hand also. “Your turn, Omar.” 




63 


But Omar hesitated. What has the 
man done to mef N^othing,” he fal- 
tered. 

“ So ? ” said Jonas, insinuatingly. 
“Omar, what dg the Christians say? 
^The fire is soon rekindled when the 
hearth is hot.’ ” 

Saying this he laughed knowingly, and 
pointed to where Eachel and the Mahdi 
had gone into the house together. The 
stab went home. 

“ Come ! ” said Omar, and he dipped 
into the bag. 

Jonas and Otba glanced at their coins 
and smiled ; but Omar, without looking, 
offered his coin to Jonas. They started 
at the sight of it. 

“I knew it,” said Omar, solemnly. 
“The deed is written on my forehead. 
I must have come to it.” 

The moon had risen by this time, and 
Othman, with a light heart and a light 
step, was coming to his assignation with 
Asma, when he saw the three men under 


64 


Q[l)e ittal)bi. 


the walls of Eachel’s house and he 
stepped back. 

Go to him at midnight,” said Jonas. 
^^The merchants from Tadla are with 
him now. When the3%are gone let it be 
done. At the sound of the Mooddin’s 
voice strike home. We will be near and 
others with us. When he is down you 
will throw the door open to us, and we 
will enter at your watchword. Then 
each will fling a weapon into his body. 
That will be for your safety, so that if a 
blood-feud should come of this night’s 
work, it will be the family of one against 
the families of all.” 

Omar was in a stupor. “And the 
watchword ? ” he asked. 

“ Allah-u-Kabar ! God is great ! ” said 
Jonas. 

Omar was moving towards the steps 
of the house. “At the voice of the 
Mooddin, you say ? ” 

“At the voice of the Mooddin,” said 
Jonas. “ Eemember — God is great.” 




65 


^^God is great,” repeated Omar. 

Then he ascended the steps and disap- 
peared over the balcony like a man walk- 
ing under a spell. Jonas and Otba stood 
a moment in the empty market-place 
watching him. 

I half mistrust him,” said Jonas. 
^‘He’s brave to excess, and that’s cow- 
ardice.” 

Then they went oif together. 

Othman came panting from the am- 
bush of a door and called up at the bal- 
cony in a voice of fear, “ Asma ! Asma ! 
Asma ! ” 

The girl appeared in the moon- 
light, hooded for their flight. Are 
you ready, Othman ? ” she whispered 
down. 

“Yes — ^no — we must wait,” said Oth- 
man, in a bewildered way. 

“ What’s amiss ? Speak,” said Asma. 

“ Hush ! There’s to be murder in this 
house to-night. Omar is to kill the 
Mahdi” 


66 


®:i)e ittaljiri. 


Omar ! He’s with my mistress now. 
I’U tell her.” 

your life — no!” said Othman. 
‘^But as soon as he is alone, tell the 
Mahdi. Quick, girl, quick ! ” 

Asma went back into the house and 
Othman hurried away. 


V. 

^ Eachel was waiting in the patio of her 
house. She was now a true daughter of 
her people — a woman capable of great 
love, great hatred, great devotion, and 
great revenge. 

The patio was open to the sky; the 
night was dark, but the stars were shin- 
ing. The moon was not yet risen above 
the walls. A warm red glow came from 
the window of a room wherein a lamp 
was burning. 

Omar approached with slow steps, and 
Eachel received him with a soft cry of 
joy. There were some whispered words, 


QLi)c i$lal)bi. 


67 


and then Omar said uneasily, But why 
did you bring him here ? ” 

Hush ! ” said Bachel. Are you 
vexed that what I have asked you to 
do will be so much the easier done ? ” 

“ In another moment the people would 
have done it for you, without deceit and 
without treachery. But for you they 
must have stoned him to death.” 

Bachel laughed. “So he thinks, but 
he is wrong,” she said. “ His shrewd 
tongue had already divided them, and 

then these merchants from Tadla ” 

“ At least they would have driven him 
out of Fez to-night,” said Omar. 

“ And he would have returned to it in 
the morning,” said Bachel. “ No, there 
was but one way, Omar, call it by what 
bad name you will.” 

“ My love, my dearest ! What has he 
done to deserve it? Mercy beseems a 
woman, Bachel, if vengeance befits a 
man.” 

Bachel threw back her head. “ And 


68 


®;i)e 


so this madman ” she began, in a 

low, deep, passionate voice. 

he is mad, it is enough to pity 
him,” said Omar. 

The mad are sometimes dangerous,” 
began Rachel again. 

What danger is there in him f If 
only he was a tyrant, a despot, a Basha ! 
But he is an outcast, a pariah, all but a 
beggar, and to lay hands on him is to 
insult calamity itself. I cannot do it. 
There is nothing to prompt me, nothing 

to justify me, nothing ” He looked* 

at her significantly — nothing save one 
thing ” 

Rachel turned aside. Very well. 
Good night ! ” she said, coldly. 

Tell me what he has done, and I will 
do it,” said Omar, impulsively. 

^^He has injured me, deeply, very 
deeply, past mercy and past forgive- 
ness,” said Rachel. 

“ And you have chosen me to avenge 
you ? ” 




69 


I have chosen you to avenge 

me.” 

“ For what ? ” said Omar. 

Eachel did not answer immediately. 
“That,” she said at length, “is my 
secret.” 

Omar began to stammer, “ I know that 
he ” 

“ Make no conjecture,” said Kachel. 

“Is it,” said Omar, solemnly, “is it 
that ” 

“ Guess no more,” said Eachel. 

“If,” said Omar, still more solemnly, 
“if it is ” 

Eachel turned back to him and whis- 
pered in his ear, in a low voice like a 
caress, “ Come to me when it is done and 
I will tell you everything.” Then put- 
ting her arms about his neck, “ Dearest,” 
she said, “ chance has delivered him into 
our hands ; so put no more arguments to 
me, put them to Fate.” 

Omar started at the word. “ Yes, Fate 
has brought me here,” he said. 


70 




“ Have you not come by my appoint- 
ment ? ” 

We drew lots — I, Jonas the Jew, and 
Otba.” 

“ And the lot fell to you ? ” 

The lot fell to me.” 

There was silence for a moment, and 
then Rachel laughed and said, “ This is 
great news. Who can escape his des- 
tiny?” 

Who, indeed ? ” 

“ Now you can have no fear. Heaven 
has willed it.” 

It must be so. If there is any guilt 
the guilt is not mine,” said Omar. 

Who dare say it is ? ” said Ra- 
chel. 

Omar looked in at the window of the 
room where the lamp was burning. His 
breath was coming fast. 

What is he doing ? ” he asked. 

The Tadla merchants are with him. 
When he is alone I will take you to him. 
Then it will be man to man.” 




71 


“ Ay, man to man,” said Omar, in a 
huslied whisper. 

And when all is over everybody will 
say, ^ The rabble that would have stoned 

him to death ’ ” 

“Yes, yes,” said Omar, eagerly. “The 
rabble — the rabble — no other man sus- 
pected.” 

“^The rabble,’” continued Kachel, 
“ ^ that would have stoned him to death 
but for the daughter of Isaac Laredo, have 
broken into her house and killed him.’ ” 
Omar started uneasily at the name. 
“Eachel,” he said, “sometimes I think 
that you and I should not be to each 
other what we are.” 

The woman put her arms about his 
neck and laughed a soft laugh. “My 
dearest, when is that ? ” 

“ When I am alone — in the night — 
when I cannot sleep.” 

There was another moment of heavy 
silence. The woman’s arms dropped 
from his neck. 


72 


itXaljbi. 


“ Come, come,* said Rachel, cheerfully, 
“ chase away these heavy looks. What 
are differences of faith to those who 
love ? When this turbulent babbler is 
silenced for ever you shall have your re- 
ward.” 

My darling ! ” said Omar. Then, in 
a chill voice, “ Where is he ? ” 

In my father’s room — the room where 
my father died,” said Rachel, in a low 
tone. 

Omar drew back suddenly. “ There ? 
No — not there ! ” he stammered. 

Ah, he seems to fear no ghosts,” said 
Rachel, bitterly. 

Omar embraced her passionately. I’ll 
do it,” he said. My hope ! My stay ! 
My love! For your sake it shall be 
done ! ” 

He broke from her arms with a pas- 
sionate kiss and stepped into the house. 
It was now late, and the moon was dip- 
ping down into the court. 


9ri)je 


73 


VI. 

The Mahdi was in the lamp-lit room 
opening on to the patio. Boobker and 
the merchants from Tadla were with 
him. 

Mahdi,” said Asad, “Fez turns its 
back on you — come with us to Tadla.” 

“Patience,” said the Mahdi. “Fez is 
my mother, I am her son, and she shall 
yet receive me.” 

“ ^ Stretch your leg according to your 
shawl ’ — it’s a good saw,” said Boobker. 
“You cannot stay here, Mahdi. Your 
life is not worth a pin’s purchase.” 

“ Tadla is waiting for the truth. Come 
and deliver it,” said Asad. 

The Mahdi considered for a moment. 
Then he said, “ Everything is ordained. 
It is written that I should go with you. 
When do you leave Fez ? ” 

“ Within the hour,” said Asad. 

“ I will follow you to-morrow. Mahdi 
or prophet, I am a man with a man’s af- 


74 




fections, and Fez holds all that are dear 
to me — my sister, and her son.” 

We will wait,” said Asad. 

“God requite you abundantly. The 
present is patience, but the future 
breathes of revenge. I am driven away 
as a beggar, but I will return as a con- 
queror. Good night ! ” 

“ Good night ! God bless your morn- 
ing ! ” said the merchants, and they left 
him. 

As well as the windo\Y to the patio 
there was an open doorway to the mar- 
ket-place. The Mahdi stepped up to 
this doorway and looked out on the 
housetops, sleeping under the white 
light of the moon. The city was quiet 
now ; the wing of night lay softly 
over it. 

“ Take your last look, Mohammed Abd 
er Eahman ! ” he thought. “ Farewell, 
my mother, farewell ! To-morrow you 
will have the earth for your resting-place, 
and the heavens for your tent.” 




75 


The Mahdi was turning away when 
Kachel drew the curtains of the door 
from the patio and softly entered the 
room. 

^^The night is far gone,” she said. 
“ You must be very tired.” 

“ I will lie down and sleep,” said the 
Mahdi. 

Yes, yes, a long, long sleep,” said 
Rachel. 

^‘The sleep would have been longer 
and the bed harder but for you, Rachel,” 
said the Mahdi. 

“ Say no more about that, Mahdi,” she 
answered. 

Rachel was moved with an awe which 
she dare not betray ; she was seeing the 
room at that moment as it had been on 
the night when she found her father 
lying there dead. She drew up a mat- 
tress and thought, That is the very 
spot.” Then she said aloud, “ Come, lie 
here.” 

The Mahdi lay down. “You saved 
6 


76 




my life, Eachel ; God will requite you,” 
he said. 

“He does not remember,” thought 
Eachel. Then, aloud as before, “ I will 
turn the stove, Mahdi. My father al- 
ways liked it so.” She turned the brass 
stove so that the soft red glow might fall 
on the Mahdi’s swarthy face. 

“ Ah, yes, your poor father ! ” said the 
Mahdi. “ God rest him ! ” 

“ Amen ! Amen ! ” said Eachel. “ He 
does not care,” she thought. A harp 
stood in a comer of the room. “ Shall 
I sing you to sleep ? ” she said, softly. 
“ My father always loved it.” 

The Mahdi looked at her and smiled 
wearily. “You are still anxious about 
me, Eachel. But there is nothing to 
fear now. Go to your rest. Good 
night ! ” 

“I shall never sleep until you are 
sleeping,” said Eachel. 

“The world and all things in it are 
good, but the goodliest thing m the 




77 


world is a good woraan/^ said the 
Mahdi. 

Now hush ! hush ! ” said Kachel. 
She played softly and sang in a low tone 
that was like a lullaby. 

The heart of the Mahdi was touched. 
“Ah, Rachel,” said he, “but for the 
freaks of fate, what joy of life there 
might have been for you and me ? ” 
Rachel stopped. “ How can I sing, 
Mahdi, if you talk so ? ” she said. 

“ How beautiful you are, Rachel ; how 
very beautiful ! ” 

“Not a word more now — not one lit- 
tle word. Hush ! Hush ! ” 

She played again, but without singing. 
After a while she rose and approached 
the mattress. The Mahdi was asleep. 
She thought, “Now is the time. Yet 
my heart misgives me. His words were 
like poisoned arrows. ‘ You saved my 
life; God will requite you.’ ^How 
beautiful you are, how very beautiful ! ’ 
^ But for the freaks of fate what joy of 


78 




life there might have been for you and 
me!’ Must it be? Must it be? Yet 
he was cruel then, and now he is callous. 
Look, he can sleep on the very spot. 
Ugh ! Courage ! courage ! ” She 
stepped aside. “ It must be done,” she 
thought. “Surely heaven directed my 
choice of Omar. He loves me, and the 
lot fell to him. He will do it — he will 
do it.” 

Taking up the lamp, she went noise- 
lessly out of the room. No light re- 
mained except that of the stove falling 
on the Mahdi, and some rays of moon- 
light which came through the window 
to the patio. 


vn. 

In the silence Omar entered nervously. 
He looked around like a man in terror. 
“The very room,” he thought. “Was 
there no place on earth but this ? 
Ghosts ! It is full of them. That aw- 
ful night — the desk — the door — and ” — 


QL[)c inal)bL 


79 


turning towards tlie mattress — the 
very spot.” 

He returned to the door and pushed 
it open as if about to fly. Then with a 
glow of resolution he closed the door 
again. Pshaw ! That’s dead and done 
with.” 

Eeturning to the mattress, he bent 
over the Mahdi. “ Asleep ! ” he thought. 

Kill a man in sleep ! You can’t do 
that, Omar. . . I’ll go back.” He 
stepped back, and then stopped. “Asleep 
— perhaps dreaming ! ” 

Stricken by this thought, he stepped 
aside. “ I dare not. God knows I dare 
not do it,” he told himself. 

He went back to the door again, and 
stood with one hand on the lintel. 
“But Eachel!” he thought. “She is 
waiting. Eachel, my love, my life ! 
Oh, Oh!” 

It was midnight. There was not 
a sound in the air. Suddenly the 
chant of the Mooddin came from the 


8o 




mosque. Allah - u - Kabar ” — God is 
great. 

The Mooddin ! It must be done. At 
least I can awaken him,” thought Omar. 

He returned to the mattress, sword in 
hand, and cried . in a loud voice, “ Mah- 
di ! Mahdi ! awake ! Your time has 
come.” 

The Mahdi awoke and opened his 
eyes, but he did not rise. “ Omar ! ” he 
said, calmly. 

“ Rise ! ” cried Omar. Who have 
you to save you now ? There are but 
two of us here,” and he brandished the 
naked sword. 

^ You are wrong, Omar Benani,” said 
the Mahdi, calmly ; there is a third — 
there is God ! ” 

Omar was cowed at the word ; he let 
fall his sword in his terror, and at the 
next moment the Mahdi had leapt to his 
feet and snatched it up. 

^^Now, Omar, who is there to save 
you f ” he cried. 


illal)bi. 


8i 


Omar dropped to his knees. “ None, 
none ! ” he answered. 

The Malidi handed the sword back to 
Omar, saying, Then learn mercy from 
me.” 

Mahdi ! Master ! Lord ! I am your 
slave for ever,” cried Omar. 

There was a sound of hurrying feet : 
the door from the patio opened, and 
Asma entered in great agitation. 

“ My lord, Omar is coming ” she 

began, and then, seeing Omar on his 
knees, she stopped in dismay. 

Omar leapt to his feet. God of 
grace, forgive me ! Only half your dan- 
ger is past,” he said. 

“ What is the rest ? ” said the Mahdi. 

“Jonas, the Jew, my father, and many 
more are outside the house,” cried Asma. 

“ It is true,” said Omar. “ At my 
watchword they were to enter and 
plunge their knives into your body.” 

The Mahdi stepped calmly to the 
doorway overlooking the market place. 


82 




“ I see them,” lie said. They are in 
the Sok el Foki.” 

Omar, with his sword in hand, stepped 
to the doorway. “ Let them come,” he 
said, and God help him that comes the 
first.” 

The Mahdi was still looking out. 

They are ten to two,” he said. 

No matter ! ” said Omar. 

Impossible ! ” said the Mahdi. 

Escape, my lord, escape ! ” cried 
Asma. 

Be calm, my daughter, be calm,” 
said the Mahdi. Do not alarm your 
mistress. She will be asleep.” Then in 
another Voice, “Is there no other way 
out of this house ? ” 

“ None but to the market-place,” said 
the girl. 

“ Then I must go through that,” said 
the Mahdi. He turned to Omar. 
“Brother, dare you take my place on 
that mattress until I have passed out of 
this door ? ” 




83 


“Try me,” said Omar. 

“ Give me your soolham,” said the 
Mahdi. 

Omar took off the cloak and the 
Mahdi put it on. 

“ What is your watchword ? ” 

“ ^ God is great.’ ” 

The Mahdi turned to the girl. “ Con- 
ceal yourself, child, and God bless you. 
Now, silence ! ” 

Asma slid out. Omar crept to the 
mattress and prepared to lie down. At 
that moment the faces of men were seen 
in the moonlight through the arch of the 
doorway. 

“They are here,” said the Mahdi, in 
an undertone. “ Are you ready, Omar ? ” 

“ Keady ! ” said Omar. He was now 
lying on the mattress. 

The Mahdi stepped to the door. The 
faces met him. “God is great,” he 
cried. 

“ God is great,” answered voices from 
without. 


84 




The Mahdi passed through. At the 
next moment three men rushed into the 
room, crying, Death to the Mahdi ! ”, 
Omar rose from the mattress, and at 
sight of his face the men fell back in 
dismay. 

Omar ? ” they cried. 

At the same moment Eachel returned 
to the room with the lamp in her hand. 

Omar ! ” she exclaimed. 

“ Fool ! ” cried Otba. 

Traitor ! ” cried Jonas. 

The Mahdi had escaped. 


THIED PAET. 


I. 

It was early morning in Tadla. The 
city was not yet awake; the gate was 
still closed, and the porter was asleep. 
Two camels and two camel drivers lay 
on the ground at the foot of the stone 
dais which stood by the city wall. A 
third man had also been sleeping there. 
He arose. It was Otba, the Berber. 
The sun was coming up. 

^^Time to be stirring, brothers,” said 
Otba. 

So soon ? ” said one of the camel 
drivers. His name was Larby. He was 
a young man, impulsive and talkative. 
“I was dreaming I was the prophet’s 
eunuch, and had forty slaves and twenty 
wives.” 

The other camel driver aroused him- 

65 


86 


illaljbi. 


self. He was an old man, solemn and 
taciturn. 

“ What says the poet ? ‘ Sleep makes 

us all Bashas ! ’ ” 

Seems less than an hour since we 
came in from Fez,” said Larby, ‘^and 
now, before we have time, to turn ” 

“ To turn ! ” cried the older man. 

Leave you to sleep, and you’ll turn and 
turn till midday.” 

^^Well, one good turn deserves an- 
other,” said Larby. Theu, facing to- 
wards Otba, Ah, and here is the 
stranger.” 

The old man grunted. ‘‘I tell you 
again, he is no Mahdist,” he said. “And 
we’ll be punished for bringing him into 
the city. Here, stranger, take back your 
money, and go while you are safe.” 

“Keep it. I’m in Tadla now,” said 
Otba, with a laugh. 

“ That’s just why your life is in dan- 
ger, and our skins as well,” said the older 
camel driver. 




87 


“ I’ll risk it,” said Otba. 

“ So will I,” said Larby. “ What does 
the Koran say, ^ If the infidel seek refuge 
with you, give it him that he may hear 
the word of God.” 

“ Good,” said Otba ; but I am no in- 
fidel. Only I’ve not been in Tadla since 
the Mahdi settled there.” 

Larby made a long whistle. Not in 
Tadla since a year ago ! Then you’ll see 
some changes.” 

“ Things do seem altered,” said Otba. 

Altered,” cried Larby, rapturously. 

Say transfigured. Where’s the old 
Kasbah ? Gone. Where’s the old pris- 
on that was a dungeon on a dunghill ? 
Gone. Where’s the harem of the Basha ? 
Gone. Where’s the Basha himself, who 
used to grind the faces of the poor ? 
Gone. Where’s the Kadi who used to 
sell his justice to the rich ? Gone — all 
gone! Instead of these look and see: 
the mosque, the courts of law, the bar- 
racks, the women in the streets with 


88 




uncovered faces, the Moslem and the 
Nazarene, the Jew and the Christian, all 
equal and all free.” 

Otba curled his lip contemptuously. 
“Wonderful!” he said, in a tone of 
mockery. “And the Mahdi himself, is 
he changed also ? ” 

“ The apostle of God — God favour 
and preserve him ! — is changed only in 
condition; in character he is the same. 
Then he was^a hunted wolf — now he is 
a conquering lion.” 

“And Kachel, the Jewess, what of 
her ? ” 

“No Jewess now, brother. When she 
was married to the Mahdi she became a 
true believer.” 

“ Humph ! No Jew ever changes his 
faith,” said Otba. “ So she is the Mahdi’s 
wife ? ” 

Larby’s impulsive tongue hesitated. 
“His wife — hum! ha! — well — we are 
the Mahdi’s servants.” 

“Larby,” said the old man, severely, 


9 ri)e ittaliM. 


89 


^^you exceed in talk. Ask pardon of 
God.” 

“ So tkat’s tow it is,” thought Otba. 
“ And her young maid, Asma, the Berber, 
is she one of the Mahdi’s concubines ? ” 

The old man’s face clouded. Stranger, 
listen,” he said. “ Believer or infidel, re- 
member the saw that says ^ I’m the slave 
of what I speak, and the lord of what I 
think.’ ” 

At that moment a deep, low murmur 
as of many voices came from a Mosque 
whose minarets overlooked the city 
gate. 

^^Good,” said Otba, cheerfully. ^^But 
why be afraid of me ? ” He paused to 
listen. “ What’s that noise ? ” he asked. 

“ Prayer in the Mosque,” said Larby. 

A troop of people came down the 
street behind the Mosque. Among 
them were the blind, the lame, and the 
infirm. 

And who are these people ? ” said 
Otba. 


90 


(Jlie illaljM. 


“Pensioners and petitioners of the 
Mahdi,” said Larby. “ He will come 
out presently.” 

“ Hush, he is coming now,” said the 
older camel driver. 

The camel drivers roused their caniels 
and drove them aside. Otba stepped 
back. Voices came from within the 
Mosque. “ Praise be to God ! Praise 
be to God and His prophet ! ” 

II. 

A moment later the Mahdi came out 
of the Mosque, attended by Boobker and 
Asad, and made his way to the dais. 
He was clothed in white. The people 
pressed round him, kneeling and suppli- 
cating. He was pushing his way through 
when he saw the camel drivers, and 
stopped. 

“ Larby,” he said, “ when did you re- 
turn?” 

“ Late last night, my lord,” said Larby. 


inal)bi. 


9T 

“ And Omar ? ” asked the Makdi 
eagerly. 

We left him in Fez,” said Larby. 
“ He sent ns forward with tbe baggage. 
He is following, and will be here to- 
day.” 

The Mahdi drew a deep breath. 

God grant he bring good tidings,” he 
said. Then, in an easier voice : Boob- 
ker, if yon have any petitioners to-day I 
will give them andience now.” And 
with that he took his seat on the dais. 

The gate of the city was the Conrt 
Honse of Tadla. 

Boobker bronght np a man and a 
woman. This woman,” he said, “ being 
divorced from this man, for infidelity 
with his brother, claims back her dowry, 
bnt the man says he has paid her al- 
ready.” 

“What did yon pay her?” said the 
Mahdi to the man. 

“ A hnndred silver dollars,” the man 

answered. 

7 


92 


®l)e iHaljbL 


It’s false, my lord ; lie paid me notli- 
ing ! ” cried the woman. 

One of you must be lying — which is 
it ? ” said the Mahdi. 

“It’s he, my lord,” said the woman. 

The man did not speak for a moment ; 
then he said, “ A good wife is a crown on 
the head of a king, Mahdi, but a wicked 
wife is a burden on the back of an old 
man. She had beggared me before I 
divorced her, and dishonoured me in the 
face of all believers.” 

“What have you got left?” the 
Mahdi asked. 

“ Only one camel, not worth the hun- 
dred dollars she demands over again,” 
said the man. 

“You must give it up to her,” said 
the Mahdi. 

“ God bless you, my lord,” cried the 
woman, with great joy, “ and may the 
wife of your heart be blessed. You are 
true to all women, and deserve that all 
women should be true to you.” 


®l)e iHal)bi. 


93 


The man looked on the ground. I’m 
a ruined man,” he faltered. 

The Mahdi turned to the woman. 
^‘He has nothing now. Will you not 
give him something ? ” 

“I don’t mind,” she said, largely. 
“ Here’s a silver dollar for him.” 

“ Hand it to me first,” said the Mahdi. 
He looked at it critically. What,” he 
cried, ^^base metal? You carry false 
money ? Do you know the penalty ? ” 
The woman was thrown off her guard. 
“Base? False? Penalty?” she ex- 
claimed. “ How should I know it was 
false ? He gave it me, and if any one is 
to be imprisoned for it, imprison him.” 
Then she lost herself. “Oh, my lord 
Mahdi,” she cried, “ it is no use to de- 
ceive you. My husband did pay me the 
hundred dollars, but he paid me in bad 
money, and that false dollar is one of 
them. So it comes to what I said at the 
first, and I’m as innocent as the babe un- 
born.” 


94 


®I)e illal)bi. 


^^Take her away,” said the Mahdi. 
^^The silver is as good as ever was 
coined.” 

The woman was being hustled out 
when the gate of the city opened and 
Omar came in covered with dust, and 
threw himself at the feet of the dais. 

“Omar!” cried the Mahdi, rising to 
his feet. 

“ Peace be on you, Mahdi,” said Omar. 

‘^And on you also,” said the Mahdi. 

What news from Fez ? What welcome 
from your embassy.” 

Omar rose and drew himself up. 
^^What welcome?” he said. “Insults, 
Mahdi ; taunts, jeers, curses.” 

“Curses, Omar?” 

“ Ay, curses, and all but blows.” 

“ Blows ? Speak, Omar, speak.” 

“They received me in the Kasbah,” 
said Omar, “the Bashi, the Kadi, the 
Kaleefa, everybody. ^The Mahdi has 
conquered Morocco for the Moors,’ I 
said. ^ The Sultan is dead, his ministers 


2[l)e 


95 


are banished, his prisons broken open, 
his harems dispersed ; man in Barbary 
is free, and woman is a sla\7:e no longer. 
The Mahdist empire is founded. The 
nations of the world acknowledge it. 
Only Fez remains what she was — a dis- 
grace to humanity, an outrage on Islam, 
and the Mahdi calls on her to submit.’” 

Bight and true,” said the Mahdi. 
“ What answer did they make ? ” 

“ What answer ? They gave me 
^ Liar ! ’ for my answer. ^ Traitor ! ’ 
‘ Coward ! ’ ‘ Liar I am not,’ I said, ‘ trai- 
tor I never was, and let him who called 
me coward step out and prove it.’ ” 

“ Bravely spoken. What then ? ” 
‘^Then they said, ^And pray what 
will this Mahdi do if Fez should re- 
fuse ? ’ ^ March out on her,’ I cried ; 

^ fight her, destroy her, burn her! 
Which is it to be — peace or war ? Give 
me your answer for the prophet of 
God.’” 

What did they say to that ? ” 


96 




know of no prophet of God, 
save one,’ they said. ^ That’s strange,’ I 
cried, ^ for your master the devil knows 
him but too well.’ ‘ As for this second 
Mohammed,’ said they, Hell him that 
we have sentenced him to death.’ ^ So,’ 
said I, ^ has the second Mohammed sen- 
tenced you.’ At that they lifted stones, 
and would have stoned me. The white 
flag was useless. There was nothing left 
but to escape, and I leapt to my horse 
and fled. Thus I am home from Fez, my 
lord, bringing nothing back of my mis- 
sion but menace and mockeries.” 

The Mahdi was moved. “ Yes, Omar,” 
he said, proudly, “you bring back that 
which your master prizes above honours 
and obeisance — yourself, the lion and 
sword of Islam. What though you were 
driven out of Fez? Even so was the 
Mahdi before you. Fez shall fall — her 
day of decision is past. If th» insults 
of the Bash as ring in your ears, you 
shall yet wipe them out on their faces. 




97 


Welcome, thrice welcome! More wel- 
come to-day than when you came to me 
covered in the glory of your blood from 
battle.” 

Omar half-turned aside. “ I am weary 
after my journey, Mahdi,” he said. 

You shall go into my house and 
rest.” 

Omar made a movement of dissent. 

Yes ; my wife herself shall see to 
you. Yet wait ! ” he said, and rose to 
his feet. ^‘Men of Tadla, listen,” he 
cried, I'aising his voice, so that the peo- 
ple might hear. “ Here I appoint Omar, 
my friend and brother, the hero of Islam, 
the insulted of Fez, to be the first Calife 
of your leader, his heir and successor, to 
stand at the head of all believers when 
God shall need your Mahdi no more.” 

There was a shout of assent from the 
crowd, but Omar shook his head. “ I 
am not fit to walk in your shadow, my 
lord,” he said. Your words crush me 
more than your honours lift me up. You 


98 




do not know me — let me go, I am faint 
and athirst.” 

Lead him into my house.” 

Boobker stepped out. He had been 
watching Omar with no friendly eyes. 
^‘Nay, but into mine, Mahdi; it is near- 
est,” he said. 

^‘Into mine, I say,” said the Mahdi, 
“for Rachel herself shall serve him.” 

Omar was led away, and the Mahdi, 
stepping down from the dais, lifted his 
clenched hand towards the country be- 
yond the gate. “ Oh, Fez, Fez,” he cried, 
“ you are my mother, yet I feel towards 
you as a father who must chasten his 
son, though his bowels yearn over him to 
spare him ! ” 

Asad, the merchant, was standing near. 
“You will leave us at Tadla,” he said. 

“ God has willed it,” said the Mahdi. 
“Fez is the heart of Barbary. Not till 
Fez has fallen will Barbary be free. She 
is the stronghold of the old order, and 
we must go out against her. Make ready. 




99 


Bring your tributes to the Mosque to- 
night — your gold, your silver, your jew- 
els, your adornments. Make ready, 
make ready ; we must take her by sur- 
prise.” 

He was going back to his house fol- 
lowed by his people, when Otba stepped 
in front of him. The Mahdi stopped. 

Otba, the Berber ! ” he said with as- 
tonishment. 

Otba, the friend of the Basha,” said 
Boobker, in his ear. 

The Mahdi hesitated a moment, and 
then cried, “ Take him.” 

Two men laid hands on Otba. 

Have no fear, Mahdi,” said the Ber- 
ber, “ I’m not here to play the spy for 
Fez. My own business is enough for 
me.” 

What is it ? ” said the Mahdi. 

^‘My daughter — where is she? By 
what knavery have you kept her from 
her father for a year? Where is she? 
What is she ? ” 


100 




‘^Larby, bring ber here,” said the 
Mahdi. 

Larby went off hurriedly. 

The Mahdi looked steadfastly at the 
Berber for a moment. Then he said, 
^^Otba, a year ago you pursued me to 
slay me. Listen! In your mother’s 
tent there was a boy, a stranger, a son 
of Fez. His own mother was dead. 
He was a weakling; he was sent up 
into the mountains and your good 
mother nursed him. But she had a son 
of her own, a babe, and it was the light 
of her life. One day there was war in 
the bashalic; your mother fled to the 
help of her husband, and fell beside 
him. She had left her child asleep in 
the tent, and a boar came down from the 
hills. The child’s arm was in its bloody 
jaws, and only the boy was there to 
fight it. But he slew it, though its 
claws tore the flesh from his forehead, 
and the life of the babe was saved. 
Otba, you were that babe, and I was 




lOI 


that boy. Look at your arm above the 
elbow — your right arm. Does no mark 
remain ? ” 

Otba drew up his sleeve, and showed 
a red scar on his arm. At the same 
moment the Mahdi lifted his hair and 
showed a scar on his forehead. “And 
now look here ! ” 

There was silence for a moment. Then 
Otba said, in a breaking voice, “ Often as 
I have seen the scar, never before have I 
known the cause of it.” 

Larby came back leading Asma. She 
looked perplexed and ashamed with so 
many eyes upon her. 

“Asma,” said the Mahdi, “see, your 
father has come to fetch you. He thinks 
I have kept you thus long in Tadla by 
force of a false alliance. 'No words would 
efface that evil thought ; but you are free 
to follow him. So go, and God go with 
you both.” 

“ But, master ” said Asma, with a 

look of dismay. 


102 


@:i)e mal)U. 


I’ll go alone,” said Otba. 

“ Fatter ” cried Asma. 

Stay were you are, ctild ; I’ve been 
in the wrong.” 

^^Otba,” said tbe Mabdi, ‘‘a' while ago 
you told me not to fear you. I do not 
fear you, I trust you. I could imprison 
you. I could put you to death. You 
have heard my secret, that I mean to 
march back on Fez. Now take your 
fleetest horse ; go by your steepest passes. 
Farewell ! ” 

Otba dropped to his knees. “ Mahdi, 
forgive me,” he cried ; I am your slave 
for ever.” 

The people raised a shout, Praise be 
to God!” 

Otba rose to his feet with an altered 
face. I will not betray you,” he said, 
^^but I will lead you into Fez. Give me 
five hundred men, clad like Berbers, and 
I will fly towards the city crying, ^ The 
Mahdi is pursuing us I Let us in ! ’ Then 
you shall come after us with five thou- 


®l)e iHaljbi. 


103 


sand men and encamp outside the walls, 
and the same night, at midnight, we shall" 
throw open the gates to you, and you 
shall enter and possess the city.” 

“It shall be done,” cried the Mahdi. 
“ Meet me at the mosque to-night.” 

“ To-night ! To-night ! ” shouted the 
people. Then the Mahdi went home 
surrounded by Boobker, Asad, and others 
of his followers. 


m. 

The Mahdi’s house looked on to the 
mosque. Through an open colonnade 
the minarets could be seen. Between 
these ran a narrow lane. It was still 
early morning, and somewhere below a 
camel-driver was singing a song of the 
desert — 

Camel driver, camel driver, 

Now whither away? 

’Tis the eye of the morning, 

The dawn of the day. 


104 




Racliel, now wife of tlie Malidi, was 
sitting at work on a mattress covered by 
a rug. 

Hark ! ” ske tkouglit. Omar’s camel- 
drivers ! Then he must be back from 
Fez.” 

Camel driver, camel driver, 

Nay, why roll your tent? 

My spirit is wounded. 

My heart it is rent. 

A child’s voice came up from the lane. 

Eachel ! Eachel ! ” 

Eachel stepped to the colonnade and 
waved her handkerchief. ^^Hosein ! little 
Hosein ! Come up, come up,” she called. 

The dear little man ! ” The bright, 
brave little heart — a man’s soul in a baby 
body ! He is not watching me, and spy- 
ing on me, and dogging me — like his 
mother Fatima, like my own maid Asma, 
like Boobker, like everybody except the 
Mahdi — everybody, everybody, except 
him who has most cause.” 

There was the patter of little feet out- 




105 


side, and at tlie next moment a boy of 
seven, dressed in tbe little blue jellab of 
the country, burst into the room, and 
flew into Rachel’s arms. 

Hosein ! ” she said, on her knees be- 
side the boy. “ What a sunny little man 
it is ! A hop, skip and a jump of sun- 
light in a dark place ! What cheeks, 
what roses ! ” 

But the boy was bursting with great 
news. Rachel ” he began. 

“ But — but — but,” said Rachel, 
you’re surely not too much of a man 
to kiss me ? You are ? Come then. 
No ? ” — pretending modesty. ^ay, 
then, I must put up my veil when men 
come to see me.” 

“Listen,” said Hosein, kissing Ra- 
chel and then blurting out his news ; 
“ only think — we’re to go back to 
Fez ! ” 

“ Fez ! ” said Rachel, rising suddenly. 
She was serious now. 

“ There’s to be a pilgrimage,” said the 


io6 




boy. The Mahdi said so at the gate 
this morning.” 

What did he say ? ” said Eachel. 

Tell me, tell me ! ” 

“He said that if Omar brought bad 

news ” 

“ And has he ? ” 

“Yes, so we are all to go,” said Ho- 
sein, clapping his hands. “ Mother, and 
you, and Asma, and everybody. You 
and mother will be in litters. I am to 
be a soldier and ride with Omar.” He 
strutted about the room. 

“ What great, great news ! ” said 
Rachel ; “ and what a soldier you’ll be 
when you come back ? ” 

“Yes; you’ll have to put up your 
veil then, will you not?” said Hosein. 
“ Just as you do for Omar, eh ? ” 

Rachel caught her breath at that 
name, but recovering herself she said, 
“ Ah ! you’ll not have much time for us 
poor women after that.” 

“ Soldiers never have — look at Omar,” 


CIl)e inaI)M. 


107 


said the little man. Then he went on 
with the order of march. Omar will 
be in front, and I’ll be behind him.” 
He began to act it. See, I’ll show 
you. That’s Fez,” — fixing a pillow in 
position on the floor. ^^I’m Omar, and 
you are Hosein. This is my sword ” — 
catching up a fan and shouldering it — 
and that’s yours ” — giving her another 

fan. Now, one, two, three ” 

The small recruit began to march 
about the room, and Rachel followed 
him, laughing and keeping time to his 
tiny footsteps. The camel driver was 
still singing somewhere below, and the 
mimic march was proceeding, when 
Omar stepped in by the colonnade. 
Rachel saw him, and said, ^^Run, Ho- 
sein, run, or your mother will be seeking 
you. Run, dearest, run,” and so hustled 
the boy out. 


8 


io8 




TV. 

Rachel ! ” said Omar. 

Then you are back,” said Rachel. 

He did not look at her ; she did not 
look at him. Their voices were cold, 
their manner was formal. He sent me 
here himself; I was weary after my 
journey. ^ Go into my house and rest,’ 
he said ; and then he named your 
name.” 

“ Mine ? ” 

‘‘ Ah ! his noble soul is above all sus- 
picion. He takes us for what we should 
be — that made me ashamed of what we 
are.” 

Rachel’s voice began to soften. 

What evil have we done ? ” she said. 
“ Do you wish to banish even mem- 
ory ? ” 

“ It is our duty,” said Omar. He is 
the Mahdi — you are his wife.” 

And why ? ” said Rachel. “ Why 
am I the wife of the Mahdi V Because 


9[l)e 


109 

you deserted me in Fez to follow him in 
Tadla.” 

“ I came to know him as a prophet of 
God,” said Omar. “ You were prompt- 
ing me to kill him ; I had to make my 
choice.” 

Rachel’s lip curled perceptibly. And 
you chose the Mahdi,” she said. 

I chose the Mahdi,” repeated Omar. 

What was the Mahdi to you ? 
Nothing. What was I ? ” 

“ You were everything to me, Rachel,” 
said Omar ; “ the light of my eyes, the 
star of my night, the breath of my 
dawn. I loved you ; I would have laid 
down my life for you ” 

Rachel laughed a little. And 
yet ” she began. 

“ And yet I fled from you,” said 
Omar. 

Rachel laughed scornfully. That’s 
what love is on the lips of a man,” she 
said. 

^^Yes, Rachel,” said Omar, with em- 


no 


illaljbi. 


pliasis ; that’s what love is on the lips 
of a man.” 

“Well, what was left of me?” she 
said. “ To stay behind in Fez and hear 
the people laugh and say, ‘There goes 
the Jewish woman that Omar Benani 
cast away ! ’ No ! You had deserted 
me, rejected me, humiliated me. I had 
then two objects of revenge.” 

“ And you have worked your will on 
both,” said Omar. 

“Yes, I have brought him to marry 
me. He is my husband — I am his wife.” 

Omar shuddered. “ Better death than 
such torture,” he muttered. 

There was silence for a moment, and 
then Rachel said, speaking quickly, 
“ Was that why you went to Fez ? You 
knew the danger — that to set foot in Fez 
was all but certain death — was that why 
you went ? ” 

“The Mahdi sent me,” said Omar. 
“ If he finds it good that I should die 
doing my duty ” 




Ill 


The woman’s lip quivered. “Yes, 
yes,” she said, tauntingly, “you are 
faithful enough to him — no doubt of 
that.” 

“I have a double reason. I am his 
servant, and I have wronged him — 
wronged him, though he knows it not — 
wronged him, if not in act, in thought.” 

“ When— where ? ” 

“ Here in my heart,” said Omar. 
“That’s why I mean to die doing my 
duty faithfully to the last. No matter 
when, no matter where, no matter where- 
fore, I am ready.” 

Rachel watched him closely; then 
with a halbsmothered cry she dropped 
at his feet. “Omar, Omar,” she cried, 
“ you can never drive love away as they 
drive a slave.” 

Omar was trembling; his voice was 
breaking. “Turn your face from me, 
Rachel,” he said. “ When I look at you 
I am all eyes, when I think of you I am 
all heart.” 


II2 




“Servant or no sei’vant, wife or no 
wife, you are mine and I am yours,” she 
said. 

“ Do not say it, do not wish it,” he an- 
swered. 

She rose to her feet and opened her 
arms. “ I love you ! Come to me, come 
to me.” 

Omar could struggle no longer. Los- 
ing all control, he flung himself into Ra- 
chel’s arms. 

“Talk no more of death,” she whis- 
pered. “ Let the Mahdi die ! ” 

It was a fatal word ; it had awakened 
him as from a trance ; he tried to liber- 
ate himself. “ The Mahdi ! What am 
I doing ? God forgive me ! Within 
this hour, before all the people, at the 
gate, from the dais, he proclaimed me 
his successor.” 

“Omar,” she whispered, “you shall 
live to see it.” 

“ Let me go,” said Omar. 

He tore himself away from her, and 


@:i)e ma\)hl 


II3 


went out hurriedly by the colonnade. 
Kachel broke into hysterical laughter, 
and threw herself on the mattress. He 
is mine still,” she thought. ^^He will 
do my bidding even yet.” 


v. 

The Mahdi entered the room by the 
little door at which Hosein had gone 
out. 

Where is Omar ? ” he asked. 

“Gone,” said Kachel, recovering her- 
self. 

“ So soon ! ” said the Mahdi. He re- 
flected for a moment, and then said, 
“ Kachel, answer me without fear ; have 
you driven him away ? ” 

Rachel looked amazed. “ Why should 
you say so ? ” she said. 

“ I remember what you told me — that 
he was your lover — that he deserted you 
at Fez. The past is the past. God 
Himself cannot wipe it out. Answer 




114 


me again ; does jour heart still reproach 
him ? ” 

Kachel trembled, but answered, No.” 

“ You do not shrink from him ? ” 

^^No.” 

“ You have no secret torture respect- 
ing him ? ” 

With an effort — “ None.” 

The Mahdi was satisfied. ^^That is 
well,” he said. “ Yet perhaps you think, 
^ The Mahdi will not always be with me.’ 
But take no thought for that. No man 
will aspire to you when I am gone. In 
the past, in the present, in the future, 
you are my wife. You will be the 
mother of believers, you will be sacred, 
the track of your footsteps will be hon- 
oured, you will belong to the Mahdi, 
dead or alive. Therefore, welcome my 
friends as you welcome me.” 

Boobker and Asad came into the house. 
Both looked anxious and distrustful. 
“ Five hundred of the tribe of Beni Idar 
will be ready at the mosque,” said Asad. 




115 


^^Good,” said the Mahdi, “they shall 
set out at midnight.” 

“Then it is true — you are going to 
Fez,” said Rachel. 

“ Otba is to go,” said the Mahdi, “ and 
five hundred men are to go with him clad 
as Berbers. He is to fly to the city, cry- 
ing, ^The Mahdi is pursuing us, let us 
in.’ I am to follow with five thousand, 
and the same night he is to open the 
gates to us, and we are to enter and 
possess the city.” 

Boobker shook his head. “A trick, 
Mohammed, a trick,” he said. 

The Mahdi smiled. “Tricks are the 
devil’s weapons until God wants them, 
and then it is treason to call them 
treachery.” 

“ Beware, beware ! ” said Boobker. 
“ What do the J ews say : ^ Let him that 
diggeth a pit for another take heed lest 
he fall into it himself.’ ” 

Rachel had listened with looks of 
consternation. “But Otba? Otba, the 


ii6 




Berber ? ” sbe said, in a tone of astonish- 
ment. 

“ Have no fear, Kachel,” said the 
Mahdi. “This day he has become a 
Mahdist. He can be trusted.” 

“With five hundred men ? ” said Eachel. 

“ He is a believer, too, praise be to 
God,” said the Mahdi. 

“ A believer of one day only, and he 
is to have five hundred men to lead them 
to prison or to death ! ” said Eachel. 

“True, the Berbers are unstable as 
water, — yet Otba alone can enter Fez.” 

“Then,” said Eachel, eagerly, “some 
one must go with him.” 

“ The counsel is good,” said the Mahdi. 

“ Let me go,” said Asad. 

“ No,” said Eachel, promptly. “ It 
must be some one who knows the city 
well ; some one who knows the Basha.” 

Boobker made an expression of impa- 
tience. “ Impossible ! ” he said. “ He 
who knows the Basha, the Basha him- 
self must know.” 




117 


Slia ! lie can be disguised,” said 
Eacbel. 

They all laughed. 

“ I will go myself,” said the Mahdi. 

Kachel clapped her hands. The man 
of all men,” she cried. . Who knows Fez 
so well as the Mahdi ? ” 

Boobker looked doubtfully at her. 

Then you are not afraid for him ? ” 
Afraid ? ” she said, contemptuously. 
“ I will disguise him myself. A gun-case 
about his head, and the sheepskin kaftan 
of a pilgrim — what more is wanted ? ” 
Bring them to the mosque to-night,” 
said the Mahdi. 

I will,” said Bachel. 

“ Bring my sword, too.” 

^^Yes.” 

“ And my pilgrim’s girdle.” 

^^Yes.” 

“ The selham of the pilgrim as well.” 
Y es, yes,” said Kachel, eagerly. “ And 
with my own hands I will put them on. 
Afraid?” she replied, mockingly. 


ii8 


ittaljbi. 


will go before you to tbe gate. Yes, 
and my women with me, playing on their 
kettledrums.” 

The Mahdi put his arms about her. 

Brave heart of woman ? ” he cried. 

Stronger than the soul of man ? It is 
the work of Islam, and it is I who should 
begin it.” 

He began to make preparations. “Asad, 
find Otba ; say I intend to go with him.” 

“ Instantly, Mahdi,” said Asad, and he 
w^nt out. 

“And, Father Boobker,” said the 
Mahdi, “do you seek Omar straight- 
way ; say he is to take my place at the 
head of the five thousand, and enter Fez 
when we have opened the gates to him.” 

Boobker shrugged his shoulders, and 
answered coldly, going out, “ My will is 
yours ; yet beware, the pit — the pit ! ” 

But the Mahdi’s enthusiasm was kin- 
dled. “ Into no pit, dug by me or an- 
other, can the foot of the Mahdi fall, for 
the Merciful is mighty,” he cried. He 




119 


embraced Racbel again. God give you 
a good reward ! Follow with the five 
thousand under Omar. You must see 
the day of Islam’s triumph, for the day 
that we enter Fez will be the day of 
your own glory. I will be waiting to 
receive you, ready to put the crown of 
Islam on your head. Eachel, my soul, 
my beloved, my wife, my queen ! ” 

He stepped out by the little door at 
which he had entered. 


VI. 

When she was alone Eachel went to 
a cupboard in the wall and took out the 
writing materials of the East — ^the reed 
pen, the sand, the paper, and the 
ink. 

“At last, at last — the chance I have 
waited for has come, at last!” she 
thought. 

Then she sat on the mattress and 
wrote this letter : — 


120 




Otba, the Berber, is a traitor, fallen into the 
toils of the Mahdi. With five hundred men he 
will claim protection from Fez. One of his com- 
pany will be a certain great Mahdist in a pilgrim’s 
skirt and hood. Watch for him, receive and 
reward him as he may deserve. This, in haste 
and secrecy, from — 

A Feiekd of Fez. 

The letter being finished she stepped 
to the little door and called “ Mubarak ! 
Mubarak!” 

A black boy came into the room. 

“ Mubarak,” she whispered, you have 
often promised me that you could find 
your way back to Fez. The time has 
come to go. Say nothing to any one ; 
saddle the Mahdi’s swiftest horse. Take 
this paper in your hair — so.” She rolled 
up the paper and knotted it in the boy’s 
locks. “ When you reach Fez deliver it 
to the Basha. Show it to no one else. 
Now go, lose not a moment.” 

At the next instant the black boy was 
gone. Rachel called again, “ Asma ! 
Asma 1 ” 




I2I 


Asma came, and Kacliel said, ^^Let the 
girls fi’om the school bring their kettle- 
drums to the mosque to-night. The 
Mahdi is leaving for Fez with your 
father Otba. We are to follow him with 
Omar.” 

“ O, Othman ! ” exclaimed Asma, with 
uplifted eyes. 

I said Omar, child, Omar,” said 
Kachel. 

“ But I said Othman, and I shall see 
him again. O joy, joy, joy ! ” 

As Asma went out by the little door 
Omar returned by the colonnade. Kachel 
saw him coming, and made a cry of joy. 
But Omar’s face was dark. What is 
this that Boobker tells me ? ” he asked, 
coldly. 

“ What was it that I told you ? ” 
cried Eachel. “You will live to see it, 
Omar!” 

She was going toward him, but Omar 
recoiled from her. 

“ What else did you say ? ” he said, in 


122 




a hard voice — “that to set foot in Fez 
was all but certain death? Yet you are 
sending the Mahdi there — the Mahdi of 
all men.” 

She approached him again. 

“ Do not touch me. I know you now.” 

“ Omar ! ” 

“ From this hour all love dies out of 
my heart. I hate you, I loath you, I de- 
spise you ! ” 

The words smote Rachel as with a 
blow. “ What are you saying ? ” she cried. 

“ Traitorous woman ! murderess ! ” said 
Omar. 

“ Stop ! stop ! ” 

“ You are sending your husband to his 
death.” 

Stung and degraded, Rachel recovered 
herself at last. “ Even so, what then ? ” 
she said, with anger. “Just punishment 
for sending another to his death before 
him.” 

Omar drew his breath hard. “ What 
do you mean ? ” he said. 




123 


“ So you have forgotten already ! ” said 
Rachel, with a laugh. “Two years ago 
I asked you to avenge me upon the 
Mahdi. You wanted to know why. I 
promised to tell you when the thing was 
done. It was my secret; and I have 
kept it until now.” 

Omar was trembling. “ What is it ? ” 
he demanded. 

Rachel was now laughing bitterly. 
“I snatched him from the crowd and 
took him into my house in Fez; I fol- 
lowed him when you had failed me, and 
brought him to marry me when you had 
come with him to Tadla. But I always 
meant it — I always looked forward to it 
— at the height of his power, at the top- 
most reach of his ambition, on that day 
when the dream of his life came true my 
bolt should fall.” 

“ What is it ? ” said Omar again. 

Rachel came closer. She looked into 
his face. 

‘‘He hilled my father ^ 

9 


124 


®l)e iilaIjM. 


Oh, my God ! my God ! ” cried 
Omar, burying bis face in both bands. 
“Racbel,” be cried, in an awful voice, 
your bolt Tim fallen — not on tbe 
Mabdi, but on me. I killed your 
father.” 

Eachel fell back from him. You ? ” 
^^Tbat night — he had turned me out 
of his house — I came back to taunt him 
— to tell him that if I could not have his 
money I should have his daughter, for I 
loved you, and spite of father or faith or 
race you should be mine. He struck me 
— I struck back — he fell — I had killed 
him — it was for love of you, Eachel, for 
love of you. And now the bends them- 
selves must be making a mock of both 
of us. I am your father’s murderer, but 
you have chosen me to avenge his mur- 
der-^you have betrayed the innocent 
man, but the doom that was meant for 
him must fall on me.” 

Omar went out hurriedly. With a 
moan, Eachel sank back on the mattress. 


®^l)e iUciIjM. 


125 


The camel driver still sang below the 
window : 


Camel driver, camel driver, 
Where rest ye to-night ? 
By the springs of the desert, 
The waters of light. 


VII. 

It was night inside the mosque of 
Tadla. The patio was full of people — 
not men only, as in the older days, but 
also women and children. Many carried 
lighted torches, and this was the only 
illumination. As the people entered 
they went up to a silver bowl that stood 
on a stool at the foot of a line of steps 
and cast in their offerings — some silver, 
some copper, some their jewels from 
arms and necks. There was a low hum 
of many voices. Boobker and Asad 
were walking in the colonnade. 

^^No, no, I repeat it,” said Boobker. 
^^No matter how great a man may be, 


126 




•when lie undertakes a venture like this 
he should consult ten of his friends.” 

“ Great ones are not great in friends,” 
said Asad. “What if he has not got 
ten ? ” 

“Let him consult five friends twice 
over,” said Boobker. 

“ But what if he has not got five ? ” 
said Asad. 

“ Then let him consult one friend ten 
times over,” said Boobker. 

“Nay,” said Asad, “ but if he stands 
so high that he has not got even one 
friend ? ” 

“ Then let him consult his wife,” said 
Boobker. 

“ His wife ? ” 

“Yes,” said Boobker, “and whatever 
she advises let him do the contrary and 
he is sure to proceed rightly.” 

Asad laughed and said, “That’s just 
what the Mahdi has done, Boob- 
ker.” 

“It is just what the Mahdi has not 




127 


done,” said Boobker, “and beaven save 
us from the consequences ! ” 

A young and beautiful woman came 
into the mosque in great agitation; it 
was Fatima, sister of the Mahdi. 

“Peace be on you, O Fatima,” said 
Boobker. 

“Peace, peace,” replied the anxious 
woman ; “ where is he ? ” she said, look- 
ing round. “ Still to come ? Then I am 
not too late ; yet, soon or late, what can 
I do? Kachel is all in all with him. 
Oh, is there no man to stand between 
him and this woman ? ” 

Boobker laughed cynically. “ Oh 
yes,” he said, “ there is one man to stand 
between them ; would there were not ! ” 
“ But has he no friend ” said Fa- 

tima. 

“A friend, too,” said Boobker, “and 
there is the mischief, for not a word will 
he hear against him.” 

There was a shout without — “God 
save the Mahdi ! ” 


128 




‘‘ He is coming ! ” said Asad. 

The Mahdi entered the mosque sur- 
rounded by a great throng and accom- 
panied by Otba and El Arby carrying 
torches. He ascended the line of steps 
which served for rostrum. The people 
gathered round ; he lifted his hand and 
began to speak. 

“People of Tadla,’- he said, “I pro- 
claim a pilgrimage. We are to set out 
for Fez. Not until Fez has fallen will 
the Mahdist Empire be complete. Only 
when we have planted our standard on 
its Kasbah will Barbary be free. We 
have to win a dear victory for God ; we 
have to break down the last bulwark of 
Sodom ; we have to restore the ancient 
faith of Islam. Ours is the duty, ours is 
the honour — it is war ! ” 

There was a shout of “ War ! War ! ” 
“People of Fez,” continued the Mahdi, 
“we are to go back to our birthplace. 
A year ago you came out to me from 
the service of its hard masters, from the 




129 


doors of its cruel prisons, from the fam- 
ished army of its Sultan. Your fathers 
are there still, your sons, your daughters, 
your sisters, your wives. You are going 
back to liberate them. You are going 
home.” 

There were yet louder shouts of 
Home ! Home ! ” 

We go in two companies, the first of 
five hundred, the second of five thou- 
sand. The five hundred shall leave 
to-night, the five thousand to-morrow. 
Soldiers of the five thousand, you shall 
follow under Omar, my comrade, my 
successor. Obey him, swear fealty to 
him, come to him from every town, from 
every house, from every tent ; let the 
women and children of Fez come with 
you. And God give you a good re- 
ward!” 

There were deep murmurs of as- 
sent. 

“Soldiers of the five hundred,” said 
the Mahdi, “I myself will lead you. 


130 


Mahhl 


Yours is the greatest honour, it is also 
the greatest danger — ^we will share them 
together.” 

At that moment, by a side entrance 
near to the steps, Rachel came into the 
mosque, followed by Asma, who was 
carrying the pilgrim garments, and an 
Arab soldier who was bearing a sword 
and flintlock. At the same time Omar, 
who had stood in the crowd, stepped 
forward and said, “Mahdi, my lord, re- 
verse your order, and let me lead with 
the five hundred.” 

Rachel heard him. She was very 
pale, her lips quivered, her hands were 
restless, her eyes wandered from face to 
face. 

Why ? ” said the Mahdi. 

“First,” said Omar, “because it best 
beseems the liberator of his country to 
enter Fez with five thousand, not wdth 
five hundred; with triumph, not by 
treachery ; with dignity, not in dis- 
guise.” 


®I)e illal)M. 


131 

The Mahdi bowed his head. “ What 
next ? ” he asked. 

^^Next,” said Omar, dress will 
disguise the Mahdi from the people of 
his own province. There is only one 
face such as the face of Mohammed 
Abd-er-Rahman, and the men of Fez all 
know it.” 

Omar had spoken firmly, resolutely, 
almost angrily. 

“The tongue is the tongue of an 
enemy,” said the Mahdi, “ but the heart 
is the heart of a friend.” Then he 
turned to the people. “-Companions of 
my exile,” he said, “ I will listen to you ; 
what do you advise ? ” 

Boobker stepped out. “ Master,” he 
said, with a significant accent, “let Omar 
go first with the five hundred. He 
knows Fez, he knows the Basha. He 
can do all that the Mahdi can do, and 
run no risk.” 

Fatima had been standing by in visi- 
ble agitation. The Mahdi turned to 


132 




her, and said, “ Fatima, it is your 
turn.” 

“Brother,” said Fatima, in tremulous 
tones, “let Omar go with Otba. The 
last man the Basha will look for is the 
man who has just left him.” 

Eachel had been struggling hard to 
control her emotion. The Mahdi no- 
ticed this. “ And Bachel ? ” he said. 

“ Do not listen to them,” she burst out 
in a choking voice. 

There was some movement among the 
Mahdi’s followers. 

“Your reasons, Rachel, your rea- 
sons?” said the Mahdi. 

Rachel tried to speak, began, stopped, 
began again, and finally said, “ I do not 
know — I cannot think. J5ut do not let 
Omar go with Otba^ 

Boobker exchanged glances with Asad. 
Fatima looked eagerly into the Mahdi’s 
face. Omar’s eyes were on the ground. 
Rachel was violently agitated. The 
crowd caught the contagion of her emo- 




133 


tion. The one man in the mosque with 
self-control was the Mahdi himself. 

Why not ? ” he asked, calmly. 

Rachel began to stammer an explana- 
tion. “ I — I — I — ” She could get no 
further. “ What shall I say ? How can 
I speak ? ” she thought. Then she cried 
aloud, “ Do not torture me.” 

There was a murmur of astonishment 
among the people, but the Mahdi smiled. 
‘‘ Rachel, my wife, I understand you,” 
he said, tenderly. “ Your pride has 
conquered your love. This is the work 
of Islam, and you would fain see no 
man but your husband at the head of 
it.” 

Rachel drew her breath with relief, 
but Fatima ciied, “ No, no, no ! ” and 
Boobker nodded his head. 

The Mahdi was still unmoved. Fa- 
tima, my sister, I understand you also,” 
he said, as tenderly as before. ^‘Your 
love has conquered your pride. This is 
the hour of Islam’s danger, and you 


134 


QL\)C iHaf)bi. 


would fain see any man but your 
brother at the front of it.” 

The commotion in the mosque was 
now great. Omar made one step up 
to the rostrum. Mahdi,” he said, I 
am ready — which is it to be ? ” 

The Mahdi hesitated for a moment. 
Then he said, The people shall decide. 
Congregation of Tadla, you have heard 
what has been said. Now give me your 
voice, and give it without fear. The 
Mahdi or Omar — which ? ” 

At that there was a universal shout of 
Omar ! Omar ! ” 

The Mahdi listened, bent his head 
and answered, Omar it shall be. And 
do not fear that I grudge your choice. 
That name is a sound more welcome to 
me than rain in a desert land.” Then 
taking a step down to the place where 
Omar stood, he put one hand on his 
shoulder, and said, Omar, my successor, 
my friend, my brother ! ” 

Amid the tumult in the mosque. 


®l)e iHalibi. 


135 


Radiel’s emotion at that moment was 
observed by one man only ; that man 
was Omar. He slipped to her side and 
whispered, Be silent ; your secret shall 
die with me. Let mine end with 
you.” 

But Eachel could not control herself. 
“ No, no ! ” she cried aloud. 

“ Love him, honour him. Farewell ! ” 
whispered Omar. 

It shall not be,” cried Eachel. Then 
turning to Asma, she said, in a low 
voice, Eun, girl, run ; search the 
town again ; see if the black boy is 
gone. Tell him not to go.” 

Asma went off like a gleam. The 
Mahdi had returned to the rostrum. 

Larby,” he called, “ go for my own 
horse; it shall be my parting gift to 
Omar.” 

Larby went out on the errand. 

^^And, Eachel, said the Mahdi, ^Oet 
all the honours that you meant for the 
Mahdi be done to Omar.” 


136 




“ I cannot — will not ” Rachel 

began. 

“Nay,” said the Mahdi ; “do not 
grudge him one of them.” 

Rachel’s emotion was mastering her. 
“He will never come back,” she mut- 
tered. 

Boobker had returned to her side. 
“ What did you say ? ” he asked. And 
Fatima, who was near, repeated the 
question. 

Rachel was caught in her own trap. 

“Nothing, nothing but ” she said, 

and stopped again as she looked into 
the faces about her. “ How they watch 
me ! ” she thought. 

Boobker’s little eyes twinkled suspi- 
ciously. “ Would you still have the 
Mahdi go ? ” he asked. 

Rachel was in torment. “ No, neither 
— ^neither now — neither Omar nor my 
husband. It is death ” 

Boobker lifted his eyebrows. 

“ What ? ” said Fatima. 




137 


Omar touched Rachel’s gown. “ Hush, 
hush ! ” he whispered. 

Rachel’s tongue was tied. She could 
neither speak nor make sign — neither 
tell her husband of the fate that awaited 
Omar in Fez, for that would be to betray 
her design on his own life ; nor suffer 
the murderer of her father to go to the 
death she had prepared, for that would 
be to kill him for the crime that came of 
his loye of herself. 

Come, Rachel,” said the Mahdi, the 
sheepskin kaftan of the pilgrim — the 
selham — with your own hands you shall 
dress him.” 

There was no help for it. She was 
compelled to do to her lover as she had 
promised to do to her husband. With a 
mighty effort she took up the garments, . 
where Asma had left them, and put 
them on to Omar. All eyes were upon 
her. The Mahdi was watching every 
movement. Now my girdle,” he 
said. 


138 


@ri)e 


With yet greater effort she took the 
pilgrim scarf and girded it on to Omar. 

Now my sword,” said the Mahdi. 

She girded the sword on to Omar. 

Good ! ” said the Mahdi. 

There was a sound of distant music. 

What noise is that ? ” cried Rachel. 

A line of girls came down the corri- 
dor of the mosque, playing on kettle- 
drums. 

^^Your maidens, Rachel, your maid- 
ens ! ” said the Mahdi. 

But Rachel was now beside herself 
with terror. “ Who sent for them ? ” she 
cried. Then she checked herself. All 
was not yet lost. Where is Asma ? ” 
she thought. 

Larby came back to the Mahdi’s side. 
“Your horse is not in the stable, my 
lord ! ” he said. 

At the same moment Asma returned 
to Rachel. “ The black boy has gone,” 
she whispered. 

“ No matter,” cried the Mahdi. “ Ra- 




139 


chel, lead your maidens before him to 
the gate. Are you ready ? ” 

^^What must be, must be,” thought 
Rachel. Then snatching a tambourine 
from one of the girls and laughing hys- 
terically, she cried, Yes, ready ! ready ! ” 
The music ! Strike up ! ” cried the 
Mahdi. He stood on the topmost step, 
took a torch from a bystander, and held 
it high over his head. 

The crowd parted. Rachel took her 
place at the head of the girls. With 
a terrible effort she tried to walk on, 
jauntily, and play the tambourine that 
was in her hand. The girls struck up. 
Everybody was stirring. As Omar 
passed out of the mosque Rachel, with 
a wild scream, fell to the ground. 

“She has swooned,” said somebody. 
The Mahdi lifted her tenderly in his 
arms. “ Let us carry her home,” he said. 
“ Poor Rachel ! The disappointment has 
been too much for her.” 


10 


FOUETH PAET. 


I. 

It was niglit on the plains outside Fez. 
An Eastern town is dark when the day 
is done. Only a pale streak of light in 
the sky hung over the city. It went out 
as the night advanced. 

Omar’s five hundred had been three 
days within the walls. The Mahdi’s five 
thousand had arrived under cover of the 
darkness, and their women and children 
lay in the tents that had been pitched 
behind. At midnight the army gathered 
noiselessly about the Mahdi’s tent and 
repeated the Fatihah, the first prayer of 
the Koran : hamdu Vlllah^ Robb el 

ddlameen, er-Italimdn, er-Rdheem^ Maleic 
yom eddeenP 

The Mahdi rose and said, “Now to 
your tents, my people. Lie there until 

140 


the hour before daybreak. Then at the 
voice of the Mooddin rise, form into line, 
and march, each company at the call of 
its Kaid. No noise, no singing, no talk- 
ing, no laughter — not a sound. Let 
everything be done in silence. We are 
now within gunshot of the city, and 
have to take it by surprise. Eemember, 
brothers, we are going home.” 

There were murmurs of joy among the 
people. 

Once there we shall lay down these 
arms for ever. So God give us a safe 
return ! ” 

Ameen ! Ameen ! ” muttered the 
soldiers. Then they trooped off to the 
tents. The Mahdi was left in the com- 
pany of his first followers. 

^^Asad,” he said, ^^you are to watch 
the eastern gate.” 

Eight, my lord,” said Asad, and he 
went out on that errand. 

Larby, you are to watch the gate to 
the east.” 


142 




Eight, Sidi,” said Larby, and he fol- 
lowed Asad. 

“Boobker,” said the Mahdi, “set a 
cordon round the city ; we don’t know 
the gate from which Omar may sig- 
nal.” 

“ It shall be done, Mohammed,” said 
Boobker. 

“ Let there be scouts from every gate 
to the camp, and if a stranger crosses 
the line take him prisoner ; we can run 
no risks.” 

“ As you wish.” 

“ I shall not sleep to-night ; bring me 
word whatever happens.” 

“ Good.” 

“The night is dark; no moon, no 
stars. Heaven fights for us. It covers 
the sky with a pall that our tents may 
not be seen from the city walls. Thus 
^ in the darkness does God’s face shine 
upon us still.” 

“ All is well — thus far,” said Boobker. 

“ All will be well,” said the Mahdi. 




143 


“ I know it ! I feel it ! You have no 
misgivings ? ” 

Boobker answered doubtfully, “Umph ! 
Misgivings are not for me. I go ‘to my 
post. God bless your morning, Mahdi.” 
He went off with a shrug of the shoul- 
ders. 

“ Your morning be blessed ! ” answered 
the Mahdi. 

Fatima was near, and little Hosein 
was lying asleep on an upturned sad- 
dle. 

^^The air is chill,” said the Mahdi. 
“ Take the little one into the tent. Ah ! 
The brave little warrior! He was to 
have fought with demons till daybreak. 
But see, he is overcome already. The 
gentle sleep has conquered him.” 

He lifted Hosein in his arms and 
kissed him, then passed him to his 
mother. 

“Have you no misgivings, brother?” 
said Fatima. 

“ None ! ” said the Mahdi. “ God 


144 




willing and all men faithful, we shall 
enter Fez with the dawn.” 

^^God give thee peace,” said Fatima, 
going towards their tent. 

“ And thou ! ” said the Mahdi ; and 
Fatima and the child went in. 

Kachel was at the tent mouth. Then 
you do not fear treachery?” she said, 
nervously. 

^^Why should I?” said the Mahdi. 
“ Treachery is like thieving — it must 
first be some one’s hope to gain by it.” 

“ And is there no one to gain by the 
fall of the Mahdi ? ” said Rachel. 

The Mahdi stretched out his arm. 

Look ! ” he said. “ Five thousand men 
lie in the tents around us, and as many 
women and children in the tents behind. 
They are waiting to return to their homes 
in yonder city. Treachery would injure 
me ; but it would hurt the traitor 
more.” 

You are right, Mohammed, it would 
hurt the traitor more,” said Rachel. 




145 


Then falteringly, Still, who knows ; 
there may be some one ” 

“ None, my beloved,” said the Mahdi. 
^^They were true to me through hun- 
ger and thirst and defeat. And will 
they betray me now? Not one in all 
that ten thousand has a soul so 
mean.” 

Rachel answered in a breaking voice. 
Nevertheless, some man — some woman^ 
maybe.” 

No woman will betray me,” said the 
Mahdi. 

“ Yet women are treacherous from pas- 
sion as well as greed,” said Rachel. 

The Mahdi embraced her. Rachel,” 
he said, “ there is only one woman in the 
world whose passion touches me, and 
she is nestling in my arms.” 

Rachel trembled yet more. Then 
you trust me, Mohammed ? ” 

With all my heart, beloved.” 

And love me ? ” 

With all my soul.” 


146 


ittalibi. 


Eachel began to weep. I can bear 
no more. Mobammed ! ’’ sbe said. 

‘^Wbat? Crying again?” said tbe 
Mabdi. To tbink that tbe weak little 
woman wbo torments berself with these 
foolish fears was tbe angel wbo stood by 
me in tbe storm ! ” 

Every word was coals of fire to her. 

Mohammed, I have something to tell 
you,” sbe faltered. 

But tbe Mabdi was looking towards 
tbe walls. ‘‘ Stay ; what bgbt is this ? ” 
be said. “ One of tbe scouts returning ? ” 
Then be called, “ Peace ! ” 

A voice outside answered, Peace ! ” 

Out with tbe light, man, out ! ” cried 
tbe Mabdi. 

Tbe precaution is needless ; I bring 
bad news,” said tbe man, coming 
up. 

Boobker ! ” cried tbe Mabdi, in sur- 
prise. 

Too late,” thought Rachel. 

Omar and Otba are prisoners in tbe 


ilXal)bi. 


147 


Kasbah, and tbe five hundred are in 
chains,” said Boobker. 

“ Who dares to say so ? ” cried the 
Mahdi, with passion. Tell him it is 
a lie.” 

^‘It is true, Mohammed,” said Boob- 
ker; ^‘you are betrayed.” 

Betrayed ? No, no ; I tell you no,” 
said the Mahdi. 

“I tell you yes, Mohammed. Your 
cause is lost.” 

There was a sound of voices approach- 
ing. 

What noise is that ? ” said the Mahdi. 

They are bringing up the messenger 
of the betrayer,” said Boobker. 

“Then it must be true,” the Mahdi 
muttered. 

“ He was riding your own horse, Mo- 
hammed,” said Boobker; “the one you 
missed at Tadla. We captured him as 
he was coming out of the city by the 
western gate.” 

“ Who is it?” 


148 


®l)e ittaliM. 


“ Your wife’s black servant.” 

“ Mubarak ? ” 

“Mubarak ! ” 

The terrified black boy was brought 
up to the Mahdi’s tent in the hands of 
Asad and Larby. Soldiers were behind, 
shouting, “ Kill him ! ” 

“ Who sent you ? ” Asad demanded of 
the boy. 

“ I’ll tell no more,” said the negro. 

“ The name of the man who sent 
you ? ” said Asad, with uplifted hand. 

“ Never,” said Mubarak. 

“ Torment will make his tongue wag. 
The thongs — where are they ? ” said 
Asad. 

The negro began to scream. “No, 
no, not that. Don’t torture me ! ” he 
cried. 

Then, seeing the Mahdi, he broke away 
from Asad and Larby, and flung himself 
at the leader’s feet, kissed his slippers 
and the skirt of his kaftan, and cried, 
“ Mercy, my lord, mercy ! I take refuge 




149 


witli God and with you. Save me and 
I will tell all. Send these men away 
and I will tell you everything. My 
lord, my lord ! Save me, save ine, I beg, 
I beseech, I pray ! ” 

The soldiers were unmoved. They 
shouted for vengeance. 

Silence ! ” cried the Mahdi. He 
motioned the people away. The men 
went off slowly, all save Boobker. 
Rachel was still standing in the half 
darkness at the door of the tent. 

“My boy,” said the Mahdi, gently, 
“ you have come out of Fez ? ” 

“Yes, my lord, yes,” said Mubarak. 
“You saw Omar arrested, and Otba 
sent to prison, ‘and the five hundred 
soldiers put into chains ? ” 

“Yes, yes; I will tell my lord every- 
thing.” 

“You took a message into Fez? ” 
“Yes, yes; a letter — a letter to the 
Basha.” 

“ From some one in Tadla ? ” 




150 


Yes ; I will tell my lord every tiling 
— from some one in Tadla.” 

^^What treacherous man was it, my 
boy ? ” 

No man at all, my lord. See, I am 
telling my lord everything.” 

Was it a woman ? ” asked the Mahdi, 
with astonishment. 

“ Yes, master, a woman. I keep noth- 
ing back.” 

What woman, then ? ” said the 
Mahdi. 

Eachel was swaying the canvas of the 
tent in her agitation. When the black 
boy raised his head to reply, he saw her 
for the first time. 

^^No, no ! I cannot tell you that,” he 
said. 

The Mahdi had seen the direction of 
the boy’s gaze. “ Speak, boy,” he said, 
in an altered tone. “You shall be safe. 
I will protect you. What woman was 
it?” 

The black boy struggled with him- 




151 


self, and then cried, “Master, I dare 
not.” 

The Mahdi took the boy by the shoul- 
der. “ There is a traitor in my camp,” 
he said, sternly; “I must know who 
it is. What woman, boy ; what wo- 
man?” 

“Do not ask me, master,” cried the 
boy. 

“ What woman ? ” repeated the Mahdi. 
“ Tell me, I command you.” 

“ No,” said the boy ; “ I will never tell 
you.” 

The Mahdi paused ; then with his face 
half turned to where Rachel stood, he 
said : “ I must give you back to the sol- 
diers.” 

“ Oh, you won’t do that, my lord ! ” 
the boy pleaded. 

“ I must give you back to the soldiers,” 
repeated the Mahdi. His eyes wandered ; 
he seemed to be waiting for an answer 
elsewhere. 

“ My lord, my master, my Sultan, you 


152 


0^I)e 


won’t do that. They will torture me. 
The thongs — think of it ! My lord will 
not give me back to the soldiers ! No, 
no, my lord, my Sultan ” 

The boy in his terror kissed the 
Mahdi’s feet. Asad ! Larby!” cried 
the Mahdi. 

Asad and Larby were at his side in a 
moment. 

The boy clutched at the Mahdi’s 
hand. Mercy ! mercy ! ” he cried. 

See, my lord shall kill me.” He tore 
open the breast of his jellab. Kill me, 
my lord, kill me ! ” 

Rachel came between them. “ Mo- 
hammed,” she said, “ let the boy go. I 
can tell you the rest.” 

The Mahdi loosened the boy’s grasp. 

At last ! Rachel ! ” he thought. “ Then 
it is true. Oh, God, be gracious to 
my father ! Let me think. Let me 
think ” 

After a moment he said, Soldiers, let 
the boy go free.” 




153 


The negro kissed the hand of the 
Mahdi, and went off, followed by Asad 
and Larby. 

“ Boobker,” continued the Mahdi, 
^‘wait within hail — I shall want you 
presently.” 

Boobker comprehended everything. 

What did I say at the beginning ? ” 
he thought. “ The pit ! the pit ! ” 


n. 

The Mahdi stood some moments like 
a man in a trance. Bachel approached 
him meekly. Mohammed ! ” she said. 

“ What woman sent that letter ? ” said 
the Mahdi, sternly. 

Mahdi, ! ” said Eachel, pleadingly. 

What woman sent that letter ? ” re- 
peated the Mahdi. 

Husband ! ” cried Eachel. 

^‘What woman sent that letter?” 
thundered the Mahdi. 


154 


tlie iUal)M, 


“7 did,” said Eachel, and she dropped 
her head, overwhelmed with her shame. 

God of grace and mercy ! Was this 
what you meant to tell me ? ” 

^^Yes.” 

Was this the reason of your fears ? ” 

^^Yes.” 

“I see it all. Fool, to think that I 
was the only man your passion paltered 
with. There is another — Omar, my 
friend, my comrade, my successor.” 

Omar ! ” 

“ You have never forgiven him,” said 
the Mahdi. ^^He dishonoured you by 
deserting you a year ago. Your heart 
has not ceased to reproach him. You 
have sent him to his death. You have 
revenged yourself at last.” 

Rachel trembled at the error. Not 
even yet did the Mahdi know the truth, 
not even yet did he realize the depth of 
her treachery. What am I to say ? ” 
she thought. 

“The past was the past,” said the 




155 


Malidi, “but God Himself had all but 
wiped it out. You were uot the mis- 
tress of Omar because you were the wife 
of his master. If Omar had wronged 
you, you were above him. Mercy be- 
comes the great, and it would have been 
your glory to forgive. But no, you 
must wait and watch for your revenge. 
You must keep your wounds green. 
You must remember your dishonour 
when all the world had forgotten it.” 

Kachel sank at his feet. “ God help 
me, what am I to say ? ” 

The Mahdi laid hold of her hands 
with terrible anger. “ Confess it ! ” he 
cried, in an awful voice. “ It was to re- 
venge yourself on Omar that you sent 
that letter ? Confess it ! On Omar — 
on Omar ? ” 

Eachel could bear it no longer. “No, 
no, not on Omar,” she cried. 

“ Not on Omar ? Then on whom ! ” 
“Yourself,” said Eachel. 

The Mahdi let go his hold of her. 

11 


156 


®l)e i!Xal)bi. 


She fell face downwards at his feet. 
There was an awful silence. 

Myself ! Myself ! ” muttered the 
Mahdi. 

Eachel was sobbing audibly. 

‘^The darkness makes me dizzy. Is 
there no light in heaven ? Myself ! My- 
self ? ” muttered the Mahdi again. 

“ Have mercy ! Have mercy ! ” sobbed 
Rachel. 

The Mahdi recovered himself. “ When 
did you dispatch your message?” he 
asked. 

Before Omar was chosen,” she an- 
swered. 

“ Had you thought of it when you per- 
suaded me to go with Otba ? ” 

God forgive me ! I had.” 

Were you still thinking of it when 
you fainted in the mosque ? ” 

Miserable woman, I was.” 

Did Omar know anything: about it ? ” 

^‘No.” 

I have been blind,” said the Mahdi, 




157 


in the wretchedness of his soul. Blind, 
blind, blind ! Not hatred of Omar, but 
love of him inspired that letter. Oh, 
heart of woman, who can read it ? ” 
Bachel was still sobbing. “ Forgive 
me, wretched woman as I am, forgive 
me ” she began. 

Allah ! AUah ! ” cried the Mahdi, 
and he smote his breast. “ You said to 
yourself, ^The Mahdi shall go to Fez, 
but my letter shall go before him.’ 
No? Yes?” 

^^Yes, Mohammed, yes.” 

And when you saw Omar step into 
the place you had meant for me, you 
thought, ^The letter I wrote to betray 
my husband will kill my lover instead.’ ” 
“ Have mercy ! Oh, have mercy,” said 
the miserable woman. 

“You meant to change your husband, 
not your rank. When the Mahdi had 
fallen, you were to be the wife of the 
Mahdi still — Omar, not Mohammed. 
That was your hope — deny it.” 




158 

“ Let me speak — let me explain ” 

“And Omar — wkat of kim? There 
has been double treachery in this, and 
the greater half has been his.” 

“No, no ! ” 

“ I thought him my best friend,” said 
the Mahdi ; “ he has been my worst ene- 
my. I could have sworn to his truth; 
but he is guilty, guilty, guilty.” 

“No, no ; Omar is not to blame,” cried 
Kachel. 

The Mahdi laughed scornfully. “ Yes, 
yes, the old story — it’s a woman’s ancient 
artifice to shield the guilty man. It’s only 
the innocent one that she will sacrifice. 
But the trick has failed her this time.” 

“Hear me,” said Kachel. “I alone 
have been guilty. Omar ” 

“Omar has fallen into the trap that 
was meant for me,” said the Mahdi. 
“ But that is not enough for my venge- 
ance. He is a prisoner in the Kasbah ; 
that is only the punishment of his offence 
against the Basha. But he has offended 


ari)e Mam- 


159 


against my honour, and he shall answer 
to me for his disloyalty and his sin.” 
He put his hand to his mouth and 
called, Boobker, Boobker ! ” 

^^What are you going to do?” cried 
Bachel. 

Silence, woman,” said the Mahdi. 
What more is there to say ? ” 

Boobker came back. The Mahdi said, 
“ Send the white flag to the walls of the 
city. Call for the Basha. Say the 
Mahdi sends ^ Peace to all believers,’ 
and asks what hostage the city demands 
that it may deliver up to him for one 
hour — to be delivered back to it dead or 
alive — Omar, son of Benani.” 

^^Good,” said Boobker, and went off 
on his errand. 

Kachel’s sobs had deepened to groans 
of terror, but now clinging to her hus- 
band, and speaking vehemently, she said, 
Mohammed, you shall hear me. Omar 
is innocent, and beware what you do to 
him. Hear me! Not until you know 




i6o 


my heart can you judge my crime. Then 
do what you will with me. I will tell 
you all. My life by your side has been 
a deception from the first.” 

The Mahdi turned away impatiently. 

^^Nay, listen, for God’s own sake lis- 
ten. I loved you from the first.” 

The Mahdi tried to liberate himself. 

“Yes, yes, it is true — it is true; but 
when Omar attempted your life in Fez, 
it was I who prompted him.” 

“Have done, have done,” said the 
Mahdi. 

“ When I followed you to Tadla and 
pretended to forsake my faith and em- 
brace your Islam, I was deceiving you. 
When I married you, I was decebdng 
you again. But not for love of Omar — 
no, ” 

The Mahdi could hear no more. 
“ Torture me with that name no longer,” 
he said, and he liberated himself from 
her grasp. 

Rachel came nervously to his side 




i6i 


again. Motammed, husband, do not 
cast me utterly away,” she said in a 
voice of deep emotion. “ Let me follow 
you and serve you. Whatever fate 
awaits you let me share it. I do not 
ask to be your wife. That is past — lost 
— forfeited. Let me be your servant, 
your handmaiden, your slave. Do not 
say no. Do not turn ‘from me. . All 
along my love for you has been fighting 
in my heart with hate.” 

^^Love?” said the Mahdi, “do you 
talk of love to me again ? Turn down 
that page of life for ever.” 

Boobker came back. 

“ What news ? What hostage ? ” cried 
the Mahdi. 

“ An impossible one, Mohammed,” 
said Boobker; “two of the nearest of 
kin to the Mahdi, and a thousand men.” 

“They shall be sent,” said the Mah- 
di, promptly. Then, calling, “ Asad ! 
Larby ! ” 

Asad came up. “ A thousand men to 


i 62 


QL\)c 


the city as hostages for Omar.” Asad 
saluted and went out. 

Then calling again, Fatima! Ho- 
sein 1 ” 

Fatima came out of the tent carrying 
Hosein in her arms. She was wearing 
the Moorish woman’s blanket over her 
head and shoulders. The Mahdi em- 
braced her. ^^My sister,” he said, ten- 
derly, ^^you are to go into Fez with 
Hosein as hostage for one hour. Have 
no fear. I will ransom you.” 

He kissed her forehead and took 
Hosein out of her arms. “ My son, my 
warrior, my lion-hearted lad, now’s your 
time to be brave,” he said. “Did you 
not say you would be the first to enter 
Fez? You shall! you shall! Fare- 
well ! Only for one hour, farewell.” 
Then, with a great struggle, “ I will ran- 
som you. As sure as I live I will ran- 
som you ! Farewell ! ” 

Kissing the boy passionately he went 
hurriedly into the tent. 




163 


Fatima, half bewildered, looked round 
to Boobker. What does it mean ? ” she 
said with fear. 

^^Mean?” said Boobker, scornfully. 
“ That another man has been betrayed 
by the beauty in a woman’s face.” 

‘‘ But Fez — we are to go as hostages — 
hostages for what ? — for whom ? ” 

For Omar,” said Boobker. Did I 
not tell you that there was a man to 
stand between them ? ” 

Fatima was terrified. “We shall 
never return,” she cried. “They will 
kill us. I dare not go. Oh, oh, oh ! ” 
She dropped to the ground, and the 
blanket fell from her head. 

“ Fainted, poor child. Let me carry 
her in,” said Boobker. “This is what 
it comes to — oh ! miserable is the man 
who builds his house on the deep pit 
that is a harlot’s heart.” 

He can’ied Fatima back to the tent. 
Eachel was standing aside with her face 
covered by her hands. 


164 


ittaljbi. 


Cruel, cruel ! False too ; yet I 
deserve it alL Oh, that I could atone 
for my misdeed ! Is there no way left ? 
Heaven direct me; show me; speak to 
me.” 

Little Hosein, who had been half 
asleep where the Mahdi had left him, 
near to the mouth of the tent, now came 
drowsily to her side and tugged at her 
dress. 

Eachel ! ” he whimpered, “ the Mahdi 
said I was to be the first to go into Fez 
— and mother has — mother is — who is to 
take me now ? ” 

Heaven has spoken ! ” thought Ea- 
chel. ^^Call me mother, Hosein, and I 
will take you.” 

“ Will you ? ” said the boy. 

^Wes, yes.” 

There was a voice outside the camp. 

Peace ! Peace ! ” 

^^The soldiers from Fez,” thought 
Eachel. She snatched up Fatima’s 
blanket from the place where it lay, 


®:i)e iHaljM. 


165 


covered her head and answered, 
Peace ! ” 

Two soldiers came np to the tent 
mouth. “ Fatima, sister of the Mahdi, 
and Hosein her son — in which tent shall 
we find them ? ” they asked. 

Kachel lifted Hosein into her arms 
and answered, Here, here ; we are 
ready ! ” 

At the next moment all four had gone 
together. 


m. 

In the earliest light of morning a 
young man out of Fez came creeping, 
lamp in hand, towards the tents of the 
Mahdi. 

Asma ! ” he cried in whispers. 

The girl knew his voice and came out 
to him. 

‘‘ Othman ! ” she cried, and they fell 
into each others’ arms. 

‘‘ Crying already ! ” 


i66 




Isn’t it a whole year since I saw you 
last ? ” the girl blubbered. 

She can’t help it, being only a wom- 
an,” said Othman, wiping his own eyes 
by stealth. “ But hush ! listen ! I’m here 
on a dangerous mission. Where’s the 
Mahdi?” 

“ In his tent,” said Asma. 

“Good,” said Othman. “He thinks 
his cause is lost, but he’ll conquer yet. 
When Omar and your father came in 
disguise and were detected they were 
thrown into the Kasbah, and the Basha 
made me their gaoler. ‘ Now’s my 
chance,’ I thought, Go win my little 
Asma from Otba.’” 

“Well, well?” 

“Well, I puzzled and puzzled, and 
didn’t know what to do.” 

“Well, well?” repeated Asma, impa- 
tiently. 

“ Well, I was driven to my wit’s end.” 

“That couldn’t have been very far, 
Othman,” said Asma, with a saucy beat 


iHal)bL 


167 


of her foot. “ If your wit wasn’t quicker 
than your tongue no wonder it ran no 
great distance.” 

“ Ha ! ha ! ha ! Do you know, Asma, 
they say your great-great-great-great- 
gi'andfather was the best storyteller in 
Morocco? Well, my chance came at 
last — to-day — to-night — an hour ago. 
When the white flag arrived from the 
Mahdi the Basha said to his Kaid, 
^ Razor cut razor — treason cut treason — 
he tried to betray us, let us betray him.’ 
Then he came for me. ‘Othman,’ he 
said, ^go quickly to the Kaid of the 
Berbers. Tell him the Mahdi lies out- 
side these walls, and ask him to send me 
flve thousand men to-night and we’ll 
catch the rascal like a rat in a trap.’ ” 

Well, weU?” 

Well, then I went to your father in 
prison. ^ Otba,’ I whispered, ^ if I bring 
back five thousand of the Mahdi’s men 
instead of the Kaid’s will you give me 
your daughter Asma ? ’ ^ Turn Mahdist,’ 


i68 


QLl)C ittaljbi. 


he said, ^ and I will.’ ‘ IVe been one all 
my life,’ I answered — that was a lie, but 
no matter. ‘ Then it’s done,’ he cried — 
and here I am. What’s this? Crying 
again ! Oh, this is a sweet world ! ” 
How can I help it being only a 
woman said Asma. “I’ll run and 
kiss little Hosein — just for joy of the 
good news.” 

“Wait, wait, wait!” cried Othman. 
“If kissing will relieve your feelings 

couldn’t you now ” 

“ Couldn’t I — what ? ” 

“ Couldn’t you kiss me instead ? ” and 
he tipped up her chin and kissed her. 

“ It was very clever of you to think of 
that, Othman,” said Asma. 

“ The kissing ? ” 

“The way to catch my father.” 

“Oh, it wasn’t I that thought of it. 
It was the saints. Every morning I went 
to the Saints’ House and prayed, ‘ Holy 
saints show me how to win my little 
Asma.’ ” 




169 


^^But what will the saints say when 
they know youVe told my father a lie ? ” 

Oh, well — umph ! ” faltered Othman, 
‘Hhe saints were flesh and blood them- 
selves once, so they’ll have a fellow-feel- 
ing. But I must be off, Asma. Listen 
— I’ve arranged everything but one 
thing, and now I’ve something for you 
to do.” 

‘^Yes? Yes?” 

Watch for a light on yonder wall. 
When you see it tell the Mahdi that the 
gates of Fez are open to him, and he may 
enter the city without striking a blow.” 

Oh, the good news ! I’ll run and 
kiss little Hosein again.” 

Pity to trouble him ! ” He kissed 
her again. Besides, I saw him going 
off with his mother as Omar’s hostage. 
Good-bye ! Good-bye ! ” 


170 


®l)e ittaljM. 


IV. 

As Otliman returned to Fez lie passed 
a guard of soldiers coming out with Omar. 

“ His sister and her son, you say ? ” 
said Omar. 

His sister and her son,” said one of 
the soldiers. 

“ As my hostages ? ” 

‘‘ As your hostages.” 

Into that den of leopards ? ” 

Into Fez, Sidi.” 

“ How he loves me ! ” said Omar. 
^‘Fatima and little Hosein — they are 
the apple of his eye. God’s face shine 
on him for ever ! ” 

When they came within speech of the 
Mahdi, Omar ran forward and kissed 
the hem of his selham. “ My dear mas- 
ter ! ” he cried. 

The Mahdi held him off. “ Not so 
quick, Sidi,” he said. 

Mahdi ! ” cried Omar, in astonish- 
ment. 




171 

The Mahdi brushed past him to the 
soldiers. “ Have the hostages gone into 
the city ? ” he asked. 

“ They have gone,” said the soldiers. 

Did they go willingly ? ” 

“Willingiy.” 

“And cheerfully ? ” 

“ Cheerfully.” 

“ God bless them ! ” muttered the 
Mahdi. “ My Fatima ! My little Ho- 
sein ! All I have left.” Then aloud, 
“ Within the hour, that is the word, is it 
not ? ” 

“ That is the word, — within the hour,” 
said the soldier. 

“Alive or deadf'^ said the Mahdi, 
with significant emphasis. 

“Alive or dead,” repeated the soldier. 

“ Leave your prisoner with me and 
come back when the time is up.” Then 
he added, with still more significant 
emphasis, “ He will be ready.” 

The soldiers left them together. Omar 
looked nervously at the Mahdi in the 
12 




172 


Sri)e ittal)bi. 


light of the fire that now burnt at the 
tent month. The Mahdi is ill ; his 
eyes are swollen ; his lips are white. 
Something has happened,” he said anx- 
iously. 

^‘You are right,” said the Mahdi, 
coldly. “ Something has happened. Ap- 
proach ! Nearer, man ; make no more 
faces.” 

Omar came up with a bewildered 
look. Master ! ” he cried again. 

“ That sword — where did you get it ? ” 
said the Mahdi, pointing to the weapon 
at Omar’s side. 

From you, Mahdi,” said Omar. ‘‘ It 
is the sword you gave me at Tad! a. 
Oh, it is a noble blade, as firm as friend- 
ship and as true as love.” 

Give it back,” said the Mahdi. 

“ Mahdi ! ” 

“ Give it back.” 

Omar unbuckled his sword and de- 
livered it to the Mahdi, who fiung it to 
the ground behind him. 




173 


That pilgrim’s girdle — where did it 
come from ? ” said the Mahdi. 

From you, master,” said Omar. In 
the mosque on the night when I set out 
for Fez you commanded Kachel to gird 
it on me. It was the mark of your 
trust and of my honour.” 

“Unfasten it,” said the Mahdi. 

There was a moment’s hesitation, and 
then Omar unfastened his girdle and 
gave it to the Mahdi, who flung it after 
the sword. 

“ That selham of green — how did you 
come by it ? ” 

“You commanded Rachel to clothe 
me with this also,” said Omar. “ It 
was the mantle of the Mahdi, when he 
was a pilgrim, in the days before God 
had called him.” 

“ Take it off,” said the Mahdi.* 


* The author acknowledges some obligations 
here to an unacted drama by Count Henri de 
Bornier. 


174 


QL\)C ittal)M. 


Omar took off the hooded cloak re- 
luctantly. The Mahdi held it in his 
hands a moment and said, ^^Have you 
given back all I gave you ? ” 

“All.” 

“ It is a lie ! ” cried the Mahdi. 

“ Mohammed Abd er Rahman ! ” 

“The trust I gave you- — where is 
that ? ” cried the Mahdi. “ The faith, 
the confidence, the love I squandered 
upon you — where are they ? ” 

“ What is this ? What "have I done ? ” 
said Omar, with looks of wonder. 

“ What have you done ? Borrowed 
fifty talents from me and brought me 
back these rags,” said the Mahdi, casting 
the selham after the girdle. 

Omar 'braced himself up. “ Tell me 
what I have done ! ” he said. “ I de- 
mand to know it;” 

“ What have you done ? ” said the 
Mahdi, hotly. “ Broken faith and be- 
come a villain.” 

Omar held himself under control. 


@^l)e ittaljM. 


175 


To wlioni have I been faithless ? ” he 
asked. 

“Ask your own heart,” said the 
Mahdi. 

“It beats for your cause, Moham- 
med.” 

“ Think of your treacheries.” 

“They are only treacheries to your 
enemies.” 

“Kemember the pit you have fallen 
into.” 

Omar hesitated ; then he said, “ It k 
the pit that was meant for you.” 

The Mahdi laughed scornfully* “ So 
you know it ! ” he said. “ You know 
who has been your betrayer — and mine.” 
Omar’s expression changed. “ Ah, you 
need play the fool’s face no longer. She 
has confessed everything.” 

“ Everything ? ” There was a long 
silence. Omar covered his face in his 
shame. 

“ Oh, Omar, Omar ! ” cried the Mah- 
di, “ how I trusted you ! But trust and 


176 




love are gone. You have been the ene- 
my in my heart’s heart. You have 
wrecked my hopes in the hour of their 
fulfilment. You have made ashes of the 
expectations of my poor exiled people 
on the day when they were returning 
home. You have uncovered my naked- 
ness and made me a thing to point the 
finger at. You have turned my heart to 
stone, and you shall give me satisfaction 
to the full.” 

In the torrent of his anger he laid 
hold of Omar by both shoulders. “ To 
your knees ! ” he cried, and forced him 
down. 

Omar made no resistance. ^‘Master, 
my lord,” he cried, “cast me down to 
the place from which you raised me, but 
let me live — let me live to renew my 
trust.” 

“You have lived too long already.” 

“ Give me one month.” 

“ I gave you twelve.” 

“ One week — one day ! ” 




177 

“ Too late ! ” cried the Mahdi ; and he 
drew his sword. “ Die, adulterer ! ” 

At that word Omar sprang to his feet 
with terrible passion. “ Adulterer ! ” 
he cried ; “ kill me by what other name 
you will, , but adulterer — no !” 

The Mahdi paused. Will you damn 
your soul as well?” he said. “Dare 
you deny it at the Judgment? ” 

“Send me there,” cried Omar, “and 
as sure as the Lord lives I will witness 
against you.” 

The Mahdi’s sword dropped in his 
hand, and the point dragged on the 
ground. “Omar never lied to me — 
never. But the very snare you have 
fallen into witnesses against you,” he 
said. 

“I have fallen into no snare,” said 
Omar. “My eyes were open when I 
walked into it.” 

“What?” 

“It is the truth. You have torn it 
from me, but it is the truth.” 




^^You knew that treachery was 
afoot ? ” 

Omar bowed his head. I knew that 
treachery was afoot.” 

And that it was meant for me ? ” 

“ And that it was meant for yon.” 

“ Knowing that, you took my place ? ” 

“ Knowing that, I took your place.” 

Having no hope of the succession or 
of her ? ” 

“ Having no hope of the succession or 
of — her.” 

Going to your death that I might 
live?” • * , 

Going to my death that you might 


live.” 


The Mahdi seemed to gasp. “ Oh , 

God ! ” he muttered. I grow dizzy. | 

The darkness comes again. My strength 
fails me.” With a great struggle to re- j 
strain himself he dropped to his knees . ' I 
at Omar’s feet. Oh, forgive me, for- * 
give me ! ” he cried. 



Omar raised him up. Kay, master,” 


i 


0^l)e ilXaljbu 


179 


lie said, “ it is for you to forgive. I could 
not command my heart, bat I am your 
sei’vant still.” 

My brother ! My brother ! ” cried the 
Mahdi ; “ yet your innocence only makes 
her guilt the blacker. She shall confess 
it before you.” 

He was stepping towards the mouth 
of the tent when Omar interposed. 

“Wait ! She has done me no wrong. 
It is I who have injured her.” 

“ You speak in riddles, brother.” 

“Don’t ask me to read them — ^they 
are the story of my crime.” 

“ Crime ! ” 

“She knows the truth at last,” said 
Omar. “ I confessed it to her at Tadla — 
it was I who kMled her father.” 

“ Killed her father,” repeated the 
Mahdi. 

Omar’s face was* down. “It was on 
the night I was thrown into prison for 
debt. I asked the old Jew for the 
money. He refused, and turned me out 


i8o 




of tlie house. I went back mad with rage 
and drunk with wine. He struck me. I 
struck back — and — I know no more. 
You had just left him, and she thought 
— she concluded ” 

The Mahdi saw everything as in a 
mirror. “ Merciful Allah ! ” he cried. 
“ Was this what she tried to tell 
me ? ” 

“ It was my secret,” said Omar. She 
could not tell you. Forgive her, Mahdi. 
All she did was done in blindness. Her 
punishment is sore. She took her revenge 
out of God’s hands, and see ! God has 
avenged Himself on the avenger. Now, 
call her.” 

The Mahdi paused ; then with great 
emotion he called againf Kachel ! Ea- 
chel ! ” 

‘‘ Brother,” answered the woman who 
came from the tent. It was Fatima. 
Boobker was with her. 

Fatima!” exclaimed the Mahdi, in 
bewilderment. 


^l)e inal)iri 


i8i 


Site fainted, and has just recovered,” 
said Boobker. 

“Then who is it that has gone into 
Fez?” 

They looked into each other’s faces. 

“ Have the soldiers come ? ” said 
Boobker. 

“ Yes, and gone,” said the Mahdi. 

“Was it a woman who went with 
them ? ” 

“ So they said.” 

“ Was it — ^Kachel ? ” said Omar. 

“ Where did you leave her ? ” asked 
the Mahdi. 

“ Here, vdth the child,” said Boobker. 

“ Hosein ! Hosein ! ” called Fatima, 
but there was no answer. 

“ It must have been she — Eachel, my 
wife, my love ! ” cried the Mahdi. 

The sky to the north-east was light- 
ening. A long, low wail came out of 
the distance. It was the voice of the 
Mooddin from beyond the city walls: 
“ God is great.” 


i 82 


^\)C ma^U. 


Asad came up with an anxious face. 

“ Mahdi,” he said, “ the camp is stir- 
ring and there is a disaffection every- 
where. The rumor goes that we are 
betrayed, and that you know the be- 
trayer.” 

“What am I to say? What ? What?” 
muttered the Mahdi. 

Larby came up hurriedly. “ Mahdi,” 
he cried, “ the people are demanding the 
life of the betrayer — where is he ? ” 

“'Where, Eachel, where? In my 
own heart — in my own bosom.” 

There were deep murmurs from the 
tents. A company of soldiers came up 
to the Mahdi’s quarters. 

“Mahdi,” said one of the soldiers, 
“ what of the promises you made us a year 
ago ? ” 

“ Who brought us from our homes to 
lead us into this trap ? ” said another 

“We have been fooled,” said a thffd. 

Others shouted, “ The traitor ! The 
traitor ! Give him up ! ” 




183 


“ Silence, ingrates ! ” cried Omar. 

The soldiers returned from Fez. They 
had come back for their prisoner. 

“ He shall not go,” cried the Mahdi. 

^^Eemember Eachel and little Ho- 
sein,” said Omar. 

“ God lead me ! God give me light !” 
cried the Mahdi. 

Within the hour — ^that was the word 
— dead or alive,” said one of the soldiers. 

Then,” said the Mahdi, passionately, 
‘^he shall go back alive, and I will go 
with him.” 

And I ! ” cried Boobker. 

^^And I!” ^^And I!” ^^And I!” 
cried many voices at once. At that 
moment Asma was seen to approach the 
Mahdi. The light ! ” she cried. The 
light on the walls ! See ! ” 

Well ? ” said the Mahdi. 

^^The gates of Fez are open,” said 
Asma. Othman has opened them. He 
was sent out for the Berbers, but he has 
opened the gates to 


184 


Qri)e 


“ Forward all ! ” cried Omar, in a voice 
of thunder. 

And the army of the Mahdi moved 
towards the walls of Fez. 


V. 

It was dawn in the courtyard of the 
Kasbah. Othman had returned in great 
excitement. 

“That’s all right,” he told himself. 
“Let me think, let me think. Have I 
done everything? Been to the camp of 
the Mahdi when I was sent to the Kaid 
of Thingamy — good. Saw my sweet 
little Asma — good. Kissed her — very 
good. Told her to watch for the light — 
just so. Fixed it myself on top of the 
Bab Toot — right. Got old Sweet-tootb, 
the porter, to open the gate — right once 
more. Bribed Hamid, the gaoler, liber- 
ated Otba, set him to remove the fetters 
of the prisoners as fast as the key wiU 




185 


open them— just so, right, good again. 
Hulloa! hulloa! huUoa!” 

A little man came running through 
the courtyard. It was Jellalli, the poet, 
and he was radiant. 

“ What ? Out of bed already ? ” said 
Othman. 

" ^^Out of bed?” said Jellalli, scorn- 
fully. “ Should think so, little brother. 
Wouldn’t miss it for worlds.” 

“ Wouldn’t miss what ? ” 

“The sight of the Mahdi when he’s 
brought in as a prisoner,” said Jellalli. 
“ What did he say long ago ? ” — assum- 
ing a radiant air — “‘People of Fez,’ he 
said, ^you shall yet bend the knee to me 
as to a king sent down from heaven — 
you shall, by Allah ! ’ Ha ! ha ! ha ! 
That was how he was to enter Fez 
when he came back to it. Ha ! ha ! ha ! ” 
and the poet laughed immoderately. 

“Then to think how he will come 
back,” said Jellalli, rubbing his hands. 
“Barefooted, half naked, riding a bony 


i86 


STlie 


old donkey, and the criers crying beside 
him, ^ So shall it be done to every one 
who is — the brother of an ass ! ’ Ha ! ha ! 
ha ! ” 

Jellalli could not restrain his laugh- 
ter. Othman joined him. “ Ha ! ha !. 
ha ! Funny, isn’t it ? ” cried Othman. 

Funny?” said Jellalli. “I believe 
it will be the death of me.” 

“ I believe it will,” said Othman. 

petticoat hung round his neck,” 
said Jellalli, indicating hanging by a face- 
tious gesture, just to show that he tied 
himself to a woman’s apron-strings and 
got his head entangled in them Ha ! ha ! 
ha ! He’ll be a sight for the saints.” 

He will, he will,” said Othman. 

^Ht would be a pity to send him to 
prison,” said Jellalli, still bursting with 
laughter; ^‘he. should be kept in the 
Sultan’s museum as a standing cure for 
the spleen. I’ll go there myself.” 

“You shall, you shall,” said Othman. 

“Oh, I’ve aiTanged it all,” said Jel- 




187 


lalli, expansively ; when he comes in on 
his donkey I’ll ride out on my horse. 
His envy will explode with spite ” 

Jellalli stopped suddenly. There 
were sounds of music and cheering at the 
city gates. 

“ What’s that noise ? ” said the poet, 
uneasily. 

Otba came behind him at the mo- 
ment, slapped him on the back and an- 
swered, *^The Mahdi on his donkey, of 
course.” 

^^What do you say?” said the poet 
from the depths of his throat. 

The music ^ and cheering increased. 
Othman began to mimic Jellalli. Oh, 
he’ll be a sight for the saints. Come, 
let’s go out to meet him.” 

Who ? I ? ” said the poet, growing 
pale. 

‘Wes, you,” said Othman. “ His envy 
will explode with spite.” 

“It would be my greatest pleasure 
in life, but — but — ” stammered Jellalli. 

13 


i88 


®l)e i$lal)bi. 


Otba laid bold of him. Then come 
on, little lire-eater,” he said. 

Othman dragged at him also and cried, 
He’ll be a standing cure for the spleen 
— come along.” 

“ It would be my greatest pleasure in 
life,” repeated Jellalli, “but — but ” 

Othman began to beat him. “You 
won’t come ? Then take that and that 
and that — for a liar and a cheat.” 

“ And that too,” said Otba, “ you slave 
of sin,” tearing off his tarboosh and leav- 
ing a bare poll. “ And mind you don’t 
catch cold.” 

“ And that,” cried Othman, tossing the 
poet’s jellab over his head, “just for a 
petticoat round your poll.” 

Jellalli ffed away, a ridiculous fig- 
ure. 

Some minutes afterwards Jonas Maliki 
came knocking at the door of the Ba- 
sha’s apartment. “ Basha ! My lord 
Basha ! Basha ! ” he cried in a voice of 
fear. 


®l)e inal)M. 


189 


“ Who’s there ? ” said the Basha, half 
opening the door. 

“ It’s I,” said Jonas ; “ our men have 
betrayed us. The Mahdi has entered the 
city. The people in the streets are flock- 
ing to him like sheep. It’s ‘ The Mahdi ’ 
here — ^ The Mahdi ’ there — ^ The Mahdi ’ 
everywhere. The prisoners are at liberty. 
Our guard have laid down their arms. 
We can’t hold out an hour. Quick — we 
must fly.” 

The Basha hesitated. Let me fetch 
my money first,” he said. 

^^No time for that. You’ll be lost,” 
said the Jew. 

^^Come then — this way — down the 
sewers,” said the Basha, drawing his 
hood over his head. 


VI. 

The sunrise was gilding the minarets 
of the mosques as the Mahdi returned 


190 


S[l)e 


to Fez. Women with uncovered faces 
crowded the house-tops. Men and boys 
thronged the streets. A line of girls 
playing tambourines met the Mahdi 
near to the gate, and went before him 
as he walked. There were shouting and 
cheering, and the Coo — o — 00 ! ” that 
is the hurrah of the East. The Basha 
had gone. Fez, the last stronghold, 
had fallen. The old order was at an 
end. 

As the Mahdi passed through the 
streets the people knelt to him. He 
touched the heads of some as a sign of 
forgiveness, and waved his hand to oth- 
ers as an answer to their salutations. 
His triumph was their triumph, the tri- 
umph of people, the triumph of woman, 
the triumph of the West over the East. 
It was also the conquest of Morocco for 
the Moors. 

Soldiers went backwards before him, 
waving long staffs, and crying, ^^Room 
for my lord; room, room!” Boobker 


walked bekind. Fatima and Asma 
walked behind Boobker. 

Are all safe ? ” said the Mahdi. 

All,” said Boobker. 

And Eachel ? ” 

She is coming.” 

Praise to the Merciful ! And little 
Hosein ? ” 

“ The child is with her.” 

And my soldiers ? ” 

Not a soul is lost.” 

“ God is great,” said the Mahdi. 

When he reached the Sok el Foki the 
morning sun dipped down on him. The 
concourse there was very great. He 
walked slowly, smiling and saluting, un- 
til he came to the house with the bal- 
cony. Then he stopped for a moment. 
It had been the scene of his greatest hu- 
miliation. It was now the scene of his 
greatest conquest. 

There was a commotion coming from 
the direction of the Kasbah. Presently 
Otba came into the market place, bring- 


192 


s:i)e iHaliM. 


ing as prisoners the Basha and Jonas the 
Jew. 

“ Two sewer rats, my lord,” said Otba. 
“ I caught them in the drains.” 

The Basha and Jonas cast themselves 
at the Mahdi’s feet. 

Forgive me, Mahdi,” said the Basha. 

“ Forgive me, Sultan,” said J onas. 

The Mahdi touched their heads. You 
were in the wrong, my brothers,” he said. 
“You were treacherous and cruel; but 
when a man has conquered it becomes 
his glory to forgive — and I forgive you. 
Go!” 

Then Othman came dragging in Jel- 
lalli, with bare shaven poll. 

“Another of them,” shouted Othman. 
“He was running a race out of the city 
on the back of a donkey.” 

Jellalli grovelled, with his face at the 
Mahdi’s slippers, and cried : “ Mercy, O 
prophet of God, mercy ! The truth is, I 
was galloping to the gate to welcome 
you on your return to Fez.” 


(Jl}e illaljbi. 


193 


“Jellalli,” said tlie Mahdi, “you suffer 
from a great infirmity. You should seek 
a change of climate, Jellalli.” 

Jellalli lifted his face. “ I will, 
my lord ; trust me, I will lose no 
time.” 

“ Take him away,” said the Mahdi. 

The Mahdi looked up at the big 
house. Little Hosein came running 
out. The Mahdi stooped and touched 
the boy’s forehead with his lips. A 
moment later Eachel followed him with 
downcast eyes. She tried to kneel to 
the Mahdi, but he took her into his arms 
and embraced her tenderly. 

The girls played ; the women on the 
house-tops made their ululation : the 
men on the market-place shouted their 
welcome. 

“ My people,” said the Mahdi, “ on 
this spot our journey ends. Fez has 
fallen, and Barbary is free. Truth has 
come and falsehood has fled before the 
sword. The night is gone, and look! 




1 94 

the day has dawned. The face of Allah 
shine on yon for ever.” 

“ Long live the Mahdi ! ” cried the 
people. 

Bnt Omar Benani was seen in Moroc- 
co no more. 


THE END. 





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